Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go on a two-day visit to America from February 12. Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, has described his visit as very important. Along with this, he said that America sent Indian immigrants in handcuffs because it is the law. He agreed that handcuffs should not be used while sending anyone back to their country.

Mukesh Aghi said, "This is a very important visit. Basically, this visit is to ensure that the geopolitical alignment continues. The understanding between the two countries on trade is going to be important. The focus on the economic agenda and technology transfer is going to be important and obviously the issue of illegal migration will be discussed. I think it is important that the Prime Minister meets President Trump, at least they are aligned in the same objectives as taking the growth of both economies to a higher level. It is also about setting expectations about where you want this relationship to go. Will they discuss trade, of course they will discuss trade. Will they agree to move forward on some kind of trade partnership? Absolutely." 

Why were the migrants sent in handcuffs?

On the issue of Indian nationals living illegally in the US being sent back to India in handcuffs, he said, “I am sympathetic to the fact that they should not be put in handcuffs and chains because they are leaving. But you have to understand that there is a law and the example is Strauss-Kahn, the IMF chief who was arrested in New York City and he was contesting the French presidency. He was arrested. He was handcuffed. Why? Because that is the law? So I think if there is a law, they are following that law and they are not making exceptions for anybody. The Ministry of External Affairs has appealed and others have spoken on it. Hopefully there will be some sympathy towards the process.”

PM Modi will go to America after France

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told a press conference that Modi's visit will give more momentum and direction to India-US bilateral relations. The Prime Minister will meet US President Donald Trump during his visit. Before his visit to the US, Modi will be in France from 10-12 February. There he will co-chair the 'AI Action Summit' with French President Emmanuel Macron. Misri said that Prime Minister Modi will visit the 'International Thermonuclear' Experimental Reactor (ITER) site Cadarache, in which India is a partner. He said, "This will be Prime Minister Modi's first US visit during the second term of US President Donald Trump." 

What will PM Modi do in France?

"The fact that the Prime Minister was invited to visit the US within just three weeks of the new administration taking office also reflects the importance of the India-US partnership and the bipartisan support this partnership enjoys in the US," the foreign secretary said. During their visit to France from February 10-12, Modi and Macron will also address the India-France CEO Forum. The Prime Minister and Macron will visit Marseille, where he will inaugurate the Consulate General of India. The leaders will also visit war cemeteries and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers in World War I. Modi and Macron will visit Cadarache, the site of ITER. 

Close relationship between PM Modi and Trump

Misri said that there has been a very close relationship between Trump and Modi since his first term. He said, "There is a clear convergence of interests between the two countries in many areas including trade, investment, technology, defense cooperation, counter-terrorism, Indo-Pacific security and people-to-people relations." He said, "The Indian community in America is 54 lakhs and more than 350,000 Indian students pursuing higher education in American universities further strengthen this relationship." The Foreign Secretary said, "The Prime Minister's visit to America will give further direction and momentum to this important partnership. We hope that a joint statement will be passed at the end of the visit, which will be shared in time."