At their encounter in Delhi on the eve of the G20 Summit, US President Biden allegedly brought up issues of press freedom and human rights.
After the Group of 20 Summit (G20) completed in Delhi, India, US President Joe Biden travelled to Vietnam. While there, he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. During their meeting, Biden said that he had brought up the subject of "respecting human rights" and "free press."
The remark made by US President Biden is crucial since various human rights organisations had raised the issue of India's press repression when PM Modi paid his first state visit to the US in June of this year, and they had requested President Biden to bring it up.
When a US journalist questioned PM Modi about the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's history of treating minorities, Modi responded at a rather unusual news conference he and President Biden held in the US.
Later, fans of the ruling party had criticised the American journalist on social media sites. The White House blasted the harassment, calling it "unacceptable" and "antithetical to the very principles of democracy."
On September 8, the night before the G20 conference, Indian Prime Minister Modi welcomed US President Biden to the former's official residence in Delhi.
President Biden stated in Vietnam, "As I usually do, I highlighted the importance of preserving human rights and the critical role that civil society and a free press have in developing a strong and prosperous country with Modi.
It is noteworthy that the Indian government omitted any reference of a conversation about human rights from its readout of the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden.
According to the statement, Modi "conveyed his appreciation for President Biden's vision and commitment to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which is based on shared democratic values, strategic convergences, and strong people-to-people ties."
Congress mocks Prime Minister Modi with the phrase "Na Karunga, Na Karne Dunga"
After US President Joe Biden spoke to the media during his trip to Vietnam after his visit to India for the G20 Summit and claimed that the latter had discussed press freedom and human rights with PM Modi, Congressman Jairam Ramesh made fun of the prime minister.
Notably, the PM Modi and President Biden meeting on September 8 was closed to the press.
In reference to Biden's speech in Vietnam, in which he claimed to have discussed human rights and a free press with the Prime Minister, Ramesh stated, "Mr Modi saying to Mr. Biden—"Na Press Conference karunga, Na karne doonga" (won't hold a press conference, won't let you hold one) has had no impact."Mr. Modi saying to Mr. Biden — “Na Press Conference karoonga,
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 10, 2023
Na karne doonga” has had no impact.
Mr. Biden is saying the same things in Vietnam which he said to Mr. Modi’s face in India — on respecting human rights, the role of civil society and free press. pic.twitter.com/08WthcKdUC
Prior to the G20 Summit, US President Joe Biden met with PM Narendra Modi in Delhi for a bilateral discussion. According to Jairam Ramesh, his team was not permitted to speak with the media or answer questions about the meeting.
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