By Azad Essa
On Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to arrive in New York City for a historic state visit to the United States.
His visit will commence with the most unusual PR spectacle.
Even before he meets US President Joe Biden, or addresses a joint sitting of Congress, or is serenaded by an adoring Indian American diaspora – all of which are listed in a power-packed itinerary – Modi will take to the northern lawns of the United Nations and lead an estimated 2,000 people in a session of yoga.
He will curl into a lotus, stretch like a hare or close his eyes and portend as a thunderbolt in an hour-long session organised by India’s Permanent Mission to the UN. It is expected to be attended by diplomats, policymakers and members of the Indian American community and televised to millions of people around the world.
More importantly, it will kick start his maiden state visit to the US, the first since former PM Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington in 2009.
Not only will Modi be cementing ties with the US, with several military and tech deals likely to be signed as the US looks to Delhi to inflict economic damage upon China, the visit will also be used by Delhi to harness the support of the influential and affluent Indian-American diaspora as the country inches towards yet another important general election next year.
But first, let’s go back to the yoga.
This story was originally published in middleeasteye.net. Read the full story here