In a rare appearance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to answer two questions during a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. He will be there alongside US President Joe Biden.</p> <p>Since taking office as prime minister in 2014, PM Modi has not participated in a single news conference. In 2019, it was unexpectedly announced that Modi will hold the first news conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Delhi to mark the end of his five-year tenure, but he didn’t respond to any questions from reporters.
Government of India’s last-minute permission According to two unnamed US officials who spoke to CNN, the Indian government had first opposed to the White House’s suggestion that Modi and Biden attend a joint news conference. The leaders were required by the Indian government to make a joint statement before refusing to answer any questions.</p> <p>However, CNN reports that Indian authorities only consented to the news conference on the day of Modi’s visit after “lengthy and delicate” discussions.
Format for press conferences The leaders agreed to have a “one-and-one,” in which they would invite one reporter from each side, as opposed to the traditional “two-and-two,” in which each leader would invite two reporters from their press corps. This implies that just one question from the US press and one from an Indian journalist would be accepted during the event on Thursday.
White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby responded to questions about the development by saying, “We’re simply glad that Prime Minister Modi is going to be participating in a press event at the conclusion of the tour. That’s essential to us, and we appreciate that he feels the same way.
History of press conferences by PM Modi Barack Obama, the president of the United States at the time, travelled to India for Republic Day in January 2015. At the joint news conference, the leaders were asked one question each by the Indian and US media.
According to a report by The Wire, Modi was questioned by The Associated Press on the climate change deal between China and the US and if the Paris CoP meeting will result in any significant outcomes without India’s commitment to reductions.
The American journalist questioned Obama on the conditions in Yemen and Ukraine.The only “details” and “friendship” between the two leaders were the subjects of all the questions the Indian reporter from ABP news asked.
Modi and David Cameron, the prime leader of the UK, participated in a joint news conference in November 2015. According to the UK government website, a number of inquiries were made about the rise in intolerance in India and on his performance as chief minister of Gujarat.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech to the joint session of the US Senate and House on Thursday, extensive preparations are being undertaken. A number of US Democratic Party members have said that they would abstain from the address in opposition to alleged human rights violations in India.
