‘Initially pushed for joint statements’: In rare press conference, Modi to take two questions with Biden

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will take two questions each during a joint press conference in Washington on Thursday. A senior White House official has called it a “big deal”, according to reports.

White House press conferences with world leaders are usually tightly controlled, with American officials designating reporters beforehand with a very limited number of questions, according to Reuters.

CNN reported that the Indian side was initially reluctant about a press conference and pushed the idea of a joint statement. “Indian officials initially balked at the White House’s insistence, two US officials familiar with the matter said. The ask was unwelcome territory for Modi, who does not hold news conferences in India, where press freedom groups say he’s overseen a crackdown on reporting,” the CNN report said.

“Indian officials had instead pushed for joint statements after which the two leaders would take no questions. It was only on the eve of Modi’s visit that Indian officials agreed to a compromise: the leaders would hold a ‘one-and-one,’ calling on one reporter from each side rather than the traditional ‘two-and-two,’ during which each leader would call on two reporters from their press corps.”

Meanwhile, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said there is an understanding that the press conference is a “big deal”.

“We are just grateful that Prime Minister Modi is participating in a press event at the end of the visit,” Kirby said. “We think that’s important and we’re glad he thinks that’s important too.” He said the format of the press conference will include one question from the US press and one from an Indian journalist.

PM Modi is on his first state visit to the United States – doing yoga, hanging out with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Elon Musk, gifting Jill Biden a 7.5 carat green diamond, and having crucial dinners and meetings with US president Joe Biden. 

Amidst this hectic schedule, however, there have been some calls for the US to recognise concerns surrounding Modi’s term in office. In New York City, trucks went out with screens telling Biden to ask Modi crucial questions about events in India – including the wrestlers’ protest and the detention of several activists, including Umar Khalid.

Read all about it here.

The joint press conference is set to take place days after Modi’s rare interview with a foreign media outlet – the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ report had pointed out that Modi “gives many speeches but fewer news conferences and interviews”. PM Modi has earlier been accused of giving “scripted” interviews to Indian media outlets.