PM Modi hopes Biden will take US-India ties to ‘greater heights’

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 8

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined other leaders in congratulating Joe Biden on becoming the President of the United States.

In a separate tweet, the PM had an especially warm message to Kamala Harris, the first person of Indian descent to become the Vice President elect of the US.

In his message to Biden, the PM noted his “critical and invaluable” contribution as Vice President towards strengthening Indo-US relations and looked forward to working closely together once again to take India-US relations to “greater heights”.

Congratulations @JoeBiden on your spectacular victory! As the VP, your contribution to strengthening Indo-US relations was critical and invaluable. I look forward to working closely together once again to take India-US relations to greater heights. pic.twitter.com/yAOCEcs9bN

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2020

The PM also embedded with the message a file photo of him meeting Biden.

The PM said Harris’ success is path-breaking, and a matter of immense pride not “just for your chittis (aunts in Tamil), but also for all Indian-Americans”. Harris had referred to chittis in her acceptance speech for the Democratic Party ticket which had set out a Twitter storm among Indian Americans in the US.

Heartiest congratulations @KamalaHarris! Your success is pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for your chittis, but also for all Indian-Americans. I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2020

“I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership,” he added.

Though it was clear that Biden had established an unassailable lead, world leaders holding public office held back their congratulations to Biden-Harris till around midnight here after all US TV networks unanimously placed them ahead of Trump-Pence.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Opposition MP Rahul Gandhi joined other world leaders not in office to be among the first to congratulate Biden and Harris.

Much interest centred on how German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has had a few run-ins with Trump, will react to Biden’s win.

As compared to 2016 when her message to Trump was circumspect and preachy, Merkel wished Biden “luck and success from the bottom of my heart”.

Other major liberal leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, looked forward to working with Biden with a common set of values.

UK PM Boris Johnson, who shares Trump’s worldview, too looked forward to working with the new President on “shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security”.

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