Gesture of respect: Papua New Guinea PM touches India’s PM Modi’s feet

In a heart-touching gesture of respect, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape touched Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s feet while welcoming him to the Pacific Island nation.

The Indian prime minister arrived in the island nation for talks with Pacific leaders, the first visit by an Indian PM to the country.

Traditionally, the Pacific Island nation has never given a ceremonial welcome for any leader visiting the country after sunset, but for Modi, Marape decided to change the tradition. Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Pacific Island nation, arrived after 10 pm local time.

“Reached Papua New Guinea. I am thankful to PM James Marape for coming to the airport and welcoming me. This is a very special gesture which I will always remember. I look forward to boosting India’s ties with this great nation during my visit,” PM Modi tweeted.

Reached Papua New Guinea. I am thankful to PM James Marape for coming to the airport and welcoming me. This is a very special gesture which I will always remember. I look forward to boosting India’s ties with this great nation during my visit. pic.twitter.com/9pBzWQ6ANT

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 21, 2023

As the two leaders embraced each other, PM Marape reached for PM Modi’s feet. As Modi tried to stop him bent further to touch his feet, they again hugged each other and shook hands firmly before walking towards the other dignitaries who had come to welcome the Indian Prime Minister.

The visiting PM was given a 19-gun salute, guard of honour and ceremonial welcome apart from Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape’s special gesture of receiving him at the airport, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

During the Covid pandemic in 2021, India sent a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to the island country. For this, Papua New Guinea thanked India as that time the nation was facing a heath crisis with delays to its vaccination programme.