Departure from norm: When PM Modi hosted top foreign leaders in cities beyond Delhi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is celebrating his 74th birthday on September 17, has scripted many firsts during his 10-year-long tenure. Apart from opening many new political chapters, one of the crucial steps that he has taken and pioneered is hosting foreign dignitaries outside the capital Delhi. By doing so, he has broken an age-old convention his predecessors followed.

It started in September 2014 when PM Modi received Chinese President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad. The meeting reflected warmth between the two leaders as they sat on a traditional swing on the Sabarmati riverfront.

In January this year, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met in Gandhinagar, not in Delhi. After Mohamed bin Zayed addressed the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, PM Modi described the UAE leader as “my brother” and said it was an honour to have him in India.

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There’s a reason behind PM Modi inviting and hosting heads of state and foreign dignitaries in different cities in India, and not restricting their visit to only Delhi. He had done this so that world leaders could witness firsthand diversity of India and the myriad flavour of the hospitality in different parts of the country. With this departure from the normal protocol, PM Modi has not just showcased India’s diverse landscape but also made a clear statement of inclusiveness and decentralisation through it.

Down the years, the red carpet has been rolled out for several foreign dignitaries in various parts of India, and not just Delhi. Here are a few instances:

Xi Jinping (2014 and 2019): In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping was hosted in Ahmedabad. He was again invited to India in October 2019 when PM Modi and Xi Jinping held informal meeting at Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram. The two leaders also visited some of the UNESCO World Heritage sites there.

Shinzo Abe (2015 and 2017): It was in December 2015 that then Japan PM Shinzo Abe witnessed the iconic sunset Ganga Aarti at the famous Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, along with PM Modi. Abe visited the city against the backdrop of Partner City Agreement between Kyoto and Varanasi. The Japanese PM was again hosted in Ahmedabad on September 13, 2017. He visited the famous Sidi Saiyyed Mosque. PM Modi and Abe also laid the foundation stone for India’s first bullet train project running between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Angela Merkel (2015): On October 6 2015, PM Modi hosted the then German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Bengaluru. The two leaders attended a business event of NASSCOM. They also witnessed a powerpoint presentation on Indian operations of German firm Bosch and visited the innovation and vocational centres where skills are imparted on the company staff.

Francois Hollande (2016): PM Modi received then French President Francois Hollande on January 24, 2016, in Chandigarh, a city designed by French architect Le Corbusier. They visited the famous Rock Garden and strengthened their bonhomie.

Emmanuel Macron (2018): On March 13, 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron was hosted by PM Modi in Varanasi. They launched a solar power plant in the Mirzapur district. It is UP’s largest solar power plant. They also paid a visit to Assi Ghat, and enjoyed a boat ride from Assi to Dashashwamedh ghat.

Donald Trump (2020): ‘Namaste Trump’ – an event held on February 24 and 25, 2020 – saw then US President Donald Trump and PM Modi being cheered by a massive crowd at the Motera cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. The two leaders hugged twice as they met on the stage. Trump also visited Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram with his wife Melania Trump.

Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2024): UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was received by PM Modi on Ahmedabad airport and embraced each other. Mohamed bin Zayed addressed the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar later. Calling the UAE leader as “my brother”, PM Modi showered praise on him. The two leaders also held a roadshow in Ahmedabad.

Other leaders who were hosted outside Delhi are Justin Trudeau who visited Golden Temple in Amritsar, Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat and Mumbai during his 2021 trip; then German President Frank Walter who made a tour of Varanasi, Sarnath and Chennai; Ivanka Trump who attended the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad; First Lady of South Korea Kim Jung-sook who was especially invited in 2018 for Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya.