Morning Digest | PM Modi’s U.S. visit yields many vital agreements; All set for Opposition meet as Patna to be the first battleground before 2024, and more

The Hindu’s Morning Digest brings readers a select list of stories to start the day

PM Modi’s U.S. visit yields many vital agreements

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden marked what they have described as a new stage in the India-U.S. relationship, as Mr. Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the White House’s South Lawn by Mr. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on a drizzly Thursday morning.

Cabinet officials on both sides, and a few thousand diaspora members — some of whom chanted “Modi, Modi” — were in attendance. The visit was not just pomp and ceremony — the two sides announced a long list of deliverables spanning defence, critical and emerging technology, health, energy and mobility. Mr. Biden characterised this as a “next generation partnership” between the two countries.

No discrimination against minorities in India, democracy is in our veins, says PM Modi in U.S.

Asserting that democracy is “in our spirit...and flows in our veins”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there is no question of discrimination in India on the grounds of caste or religion because his government follows the Constitution, which is formed on the basic values of democracy.

Barack Obama says India may ‘pull apart’ over minority rights

India may “pull apart” if rights of the religious and ethnic minorities are not upheld, former U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday. Speaking in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Mr. Obama expressed concern about rights of vulnerable sections in the Indian society and emphasised that the Biden administration should discuss these issues “honestly” with Prime Minister Modi.