The White House calls it a “Big Deal” that Modi and Biden will speak at a joint press conference

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said, “We are really delighted that Prime Minister Modi is participating in a press event at the end of the tour.

New Delhi: The White House stated that on Thursday, US President Joe Biden will participate in a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and take questions from the media. An official from the White House told Reuters that this is a “big deal” because Modi is well-known for not answering questions from the Indian media.

In his nine years in office, the Indian prime minister has not had a single press conference in India. He appeared at one press conference in 2019 but declined to accept any questions.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House on national security, stated that the White House is aware of how important the press conference is. He said, “We are merely thankful that Prime Minister Modi is taking part in a press event at the conclusion of the tour. “We think he thinks that’s important, and we’re glad he thinks that’s important too.”
A journalist from the United States and one from India will each ask one question at the press conference.
CNN claims that even this time, it proved difficult for the American organisers to convince the Indian side to consent to a press conference with questions. According to reports, the Indian side had pressed for the issuing of joint statements instead.

The leaders would hold a “one-and-one,” calling on one reporter from each side instead of the customary “two-and-two,” during which each leader would call on two reporters from their press corps, according to CNN. This compromise was finally reached on the eve of Modi’s visit.
When reporters are brought in before or after the meetings, the White House often permits questions from the media to be directed at the leaders during a foreign visit. While two presidents visited India during the same time period, Modi has made at least five trips to the US. After two high-level talks between Modi and the US president, press inquiries essentially began.

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At the joint press conference held in January 2015 when former US president Barack Obama visited India as the chief guest of Republic Day, there was one question from the Indian media and one from the US media.
The Associated Press questioned Modi over the climate change deal between China and the US and if the Paris Climate Conference will result in any significant outcomes without India’s commitment to reductions. The American journalist grilled Obama on the conditions in Yemen and Ukraine.The sole inquiries from the Indian reporter for ABP news were for “details” and the “friendship” between the two leaders.

At the press conference he had alongside David Cameron, the prime leader of the United Kingdom, in November 2015, Modi last encountered a barrage of inquiries from the media. There were numerous inquiries concerning the rising intolerance in India as well as his track record as chief minister of Gujarat.
In any case, Modi had declined to respond to inquiries regarding worries about a growing democratic backsliding during a scheduled one-hour interview with The Wall Street Journal prior to the most recent US visit.
No questions from Modi at any public event, even with a fellow democratic leader, are now the norm because every minute of a foreign leader’s visit is meticulously planned and coordinated in advance. When other Indian PMs visited other countries, this was not the standard.