Prime Minister Modi tells Harris "Pride of Indian-American Community"

Indian Media Gives Significant Coverage to Harris's Election Victory

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] After Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidential election, declared victory, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, sent congratulatory messages on Twitter.

Prime Minister Modi wrote on Twitter, "Congratulations on Joe Biden's splendid victory! Your contributions to strengthening India-U.S. relations during your vice presidency were very important and valuable," adding, "I look forward to working closely once again to elevate the India-U.S. relationship to a higher level."

Regarding Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Modi congratulated her by saying, "Your success has opened a new path," and "You are a source of pride not only for your chitti (aunt in Tamil) but for all Indian Americans." He further added, "I am confident that the bonds between India and the U.S. will grow stronger with your support and leadership." Chitti is a term Harris used when mentioning her family during her Democratic vice presidential acceptance speech.

Indian media paid particular attention to Vice President-elect Harris while reporting Biden's presidential victory. Harris, born to a Jamaican immigrant father and an Indian mother, is regarded as a successful Indian American immigrant. In past interviews, Harris cited her mother and maternal grandfather as the most influential figures in her childhood, highlighting her maternal lineage.

Indian media express expectations that the close relationship between India and the U.S., which was marked by a special bromance between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, will continue closely after the Biden administration takes office. Biden, like Trump, has agreed that the bilateral relationship must remain strong.

According to a report by The Washington Post, Biden said in a 2006 interview during his Senate tenure, "My dream for 2020 is for the U.S. and India to be the closest partners in the world." He added, "If that happens, the world will be a safer place."

However, there are concerns that the Biden administration’s greater focus on issues such as the environment and human rights, unlike the Trump administration, could pose challenges for the Indian government. Biden is known to have consistently stated that India should restore human rights to the people of the Kashmir region.

India revoked the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir in August last year and imposed near-martial law controls, drawing criticism from international human rights organizations. However, the Indian government has maintained a stance that foreign governments should not interfere in Kashmir, considering it a domestic issue.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, sent a congratulatory message to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Twitter. (Source: Screenshot from Prime Minister Modi's Twitter)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.