POTUS Welcomes PM Modi To White House; Raises 'Russia's Unprovoked War, Challenges To Religious Pluralism' In Speech

US President Joe Biden welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House.

In his welcome address, President Biden referred to US-India partnership and its importance. During his speech, Biden highlighted that PM Modi's state visit to US comes at a time when the world was facing challenges arising out of 'Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine'.

India has not sided with the US on the issue of Russia-Ukraine war and New Delhi continues to have normal relations with Moscow. In fact, Indian purchase of Russian oil has increased since the commencement of hostilities in Ukraine.

Later, in his speech, Biden also said: "Equity under the law, freedom of expression, religious pluralism and diversity of our people -- these core principles have endured and evolve, even as they have faced challenges throughout each of our nations' histories".

The party of President Biden, the Democratic Party, is known to be a home for leaders adversely disposed to the ideology of PM Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. However, President Biden was expected to keep out his party's sympathies and biases from today's speech. Given that, his reference to 'challenges to religious pluralism' comes across as forced and unnecessarily partisan.