Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 8

In his address to the US Congress in Washington today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about various aspects of the India-US relationship, including ‘shared values’. The new inject was the PM’s statement, “Today, our relationship has overcome the hesitations of history. Comfort, candour and convergence define our conversations.” This could be interpreted as a signal to the US that India is ready to move from being a non-aligned player to a natural ally of the US. Editorial: A matter of proportionsThe PM’s message on terrorism was loud and clear. Without mentioning Pakistan, he said terrorism was being “incubated in India’s neighbourhood” and pressed for action against groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban and ISIS. “Distinguished members, not just in Afghanistan, but elsewhere in South Asia, and globally, terrorism remains the biggest threat.In the territory stretching from West of India’s border to Africa, it may go by different names, from Laskhar-e-Taiba to Taliban to ISIS. But, it’s philosophy is common: of hate, murder and violence. Although it’s shadow is spreading across the world, it is incubated in India’s neighbourhood.” He commended the members of the US Congress for “sending a clear message to those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains,” and thanked the US for showing solidarity during the Mumbai attack.

 

 

The PM started his address by referring to his visit to the Arlington Cemetery two days ago and paid his respects to the brave men and women who laid down their lives for their nations. “Freedom, liberty form strong bonds between our two democracies,” said the PM.  He added that diversity, equal respect for all faiths were some of the values that India shared with the US. “India lives as one, India grows as one, India celebrates as one,” he said. His remarks seemed to convey to the US his government’s response to critiques of intolerance and lack of religious freedom. “For my government, the Constitution is the real holy book,” Modi said and went on to add that “1.25 billion Indians have freedom from fear every moment of their lives.” He recalled former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee had described India and the US as ‘natural allies’ and went on to talk about the 2008 phase.

He skipped any mention of the man responsible for the civil nuclear deal then, former PM Manmohan Singh.His tongue-in-cheek reference to the bipartisan workings of the US Congress and the workings of the Indian Parliament provoked a chuckle. He also spoke of the defence purchases that had moved ‘from almost zero to 10 million dollars in less than a decade.” The PM said that strong ties between India and the US could anchor stability- from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. And in his closing remarks, he played to the gallery by quoting famous American poet Walt Whitman: “Orchestra have sufficiently tuned their instruments, the baton has given the signal.’ And to that, if I might add, there is a new symphony in play. ”