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Papua New Guinea PM gives Modi unique welcome, touches his feet; WATCH

The Indian PM also received a grand welcome from the Indian diaspora who greeted him and clicked selfies with him.

Papua New Guinean prime minister James Marape touches his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s feet after the latter reached Port Moresby on May 20, 2023. (Picture: Twitter screengrab/@ani)

By: Shubham Ghosh

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (21) received an unprecedented welcome from his Papua New Guinean counterpart after he reached the Pacific island-nation as the first Indian premier.

After he descended the stairs of the flight around 10 pm local time at the airport in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea (PNG), its prime minister James Marape touched his feet. The two leaders then hugged each other.

The two leaders were set to co-host the Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation on Monday (22) along with other Pacific island leaders.

“I am grateful that all 14 Pacific Island Countries (PIC) have accepted the invitation to attend this important summit (FIPIC),” Modi had said earlier.

Leaders of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were touched by Marape’s gesture. Sambit Patra, the party’s national spokesperson, said in a tweet, “…the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea pays respects to the Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji by touching his feet. This profound visual exemplifies India’s growth and influence under the leadership of PM Modi.”

Another BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted, “As they say respect is earned & this video of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape greeting PM Modi shows India’s strength, respect in world under strong well meaning leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji . Jai Hind.”

Modi, who reached PNG from Japan where he took part in the G7 summit where several world leaders were present, also received a grand welcome from the Indian diaspora. They were seen cheering the prime minister and clicking selfies with him.

Modi is the first prime minister to visit PNG.

“After a successful visit to Japan, PM @narendramodi emplanes for Papua New Guinea, for the second leg of his three-nation tour,” India’s ministry of external affairs tweeted.

From PNG, Modi will go to Australia where he will have a bilateral meeting with his local counterpart Anthony Albanese and attend a grand ceremony by the Indian diaspora in Sydney.

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