Biden’s Remark to Modi: Your popularity is a problem for me

Calling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “too popular”, US President Joe Biden said, “I have run out of tickets” for a dinner scheduled in Washington in honour of the former during his state visit to the US in June, according to Times of India.

“I should take your autograph. You are causing me a real problem. Everyone wants to come (to the dinner) – from movie stars to relatives,” Biden told Modi.

The US President also praised PM Modi for “making a significant impact on everything, including what we are doing in the Quad”.

Biden said, “You made a fundamental shift in climate change. You have influence in the Indo-Pacific. You are making a difference. I should take your autograph.”

Ahead of next month’s India-US summit, US President Joe Biden launched into fulsome praise of PM Narendra Modi, terming him an influence in the Indo-Pacific and complimenting him for his popularity in the US, according to the report.

“I should take your autograph. You are causing me a real problem. Next month we have a dinner for you in Washington. Everyone in the whole country wants to come. I have run out of tickets,” ANI quoted Biden as telling Modi on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Hiroshima.

Biden, who had walked up to Modi to hug him, continued, “Do you think I am kidding? Ask my team. I am getting phone calls from people I have never heard of before. Everyone from movie stars to relatives. You are too popular”, the report added.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese, who was present on the occasion, said he was also having trouble managing requests for the community reception in Sydney during Modi’s visit to Australia, according to ToI.

President Biden further praised PM Modi for India’s deepening engagement with the Quad.

“Mr Prime Minister, you have made a significant impact on everything, including what we are doing in the Quad. You also made a fundamental shift in climate change. You have influence in the Indo-Pacific. You are making a difference,” the US president said, according to ANI.