Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said there is “new confidence and new excitement” in the India-US relationship and said that both sides need to work to bring down the difference in their energy systems -- “120 volts (US) and 220 volts (India)” -- to bring them together.
Speaking ahead of a luncheon hosted by Vice President Joe Biden, Modi said that India was “ready to march ahead, step by step and in tune with the US and want to select those parts that take us to the welfare of the world and humankind and strengthen democracy and help small nations, and we are confident we will put our energies to this effort”.
This statement, especially where he says “want to select those parts”, indicates that Modi has made clear that India was willing to go along with the US in helping smaller and less developed nations grow but not participate in the fight against the Islamic State jihadi group.
He said because of his visit to the US there was “new confidence, new excitement in the relationship, and ultimately the relationship between countries is based on the kind of confidence between the two countries and the chemistry between their leaders, which works for a long time”.
He said during the last four days he has felt that “not only on Mars have we met but we are also meeting on the earth as well and coming closer”.
He said both sides have certain problems too. “You use a system that is 120 volts and we use 220 volts and when you bring both together there is difference in the energy, and both will have to take steps to bring the system together and that is why I am standing amidst you.”
He said that after the four days of interactions in the US, he felt that not only had the US and India met in Mars -- courtesy their respective space orbiters -- but on earth as well and “coming closer”.
“India is moving very fast”, he said based on its youth power and innovation, and is “creating new hope in the world”. “India is committed and determined and want to assure the world and the US that we will fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the world”.
