Welcomed by Indian diaspora in Berlin, PM Modi begins 3-nation European tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora in Berlin, especially young children who cheered him during his arrival in Germany as part of a three-nation European visit.

“Landed in Berlin. Today, I will be holding talks with Chancellor @OlafScholz, interacting with business leaders and addressing a community programme. I am confident this visit will boost the friendship between India and Germany,” Modi had tweeted on landing in the German capital.

A young boy who was part of the group that welcomed Modi, sang a patriotic song, delighting the Prime Minister, who was seen snapping his fingers in a video tweeted by ANI. Two young men touched Modi’s feet in a traditional gesture to get blessings of the elderly. A young girl welcomed him with his handmade portrait.

The Indian diaspora elated by Modi’s visit clicked selfies with the Prime Minister, and expressed their excitement to meet him.

Also read: Modi’s 3-day 3-nation tour starts today: What’s on agenda?

“We were excited to get a glimpse of PM Modi. We came to Berlin after driving a distance of 400 kms. He respectfully greeted each one of us from the Indian diaspora. Further, we’re looking forward to attending the PM’s address to the diaspora,” a man in Germany said.

“It was a wonderful experience meeting PM Modi. He is my icon. He signed the painting I made of him and said to me ‘Shabash’,” said Manya, the girl who had presented a portrait of Modi on his arrival.

Modi is scheduled to meet eight world leaders from seven countries, including Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron and also hold discussions with 50 global business executives during his 3-nation visit.

This is Modi’s first foreign trip of the year and is significant as it comes amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “My visit to Europe comes at a time when the region faces many challenges and choices, ” the prime minister had said on Sunday.

Several leaders of the West are pressing India to impose sanctions against Russia in order to debilitate its economy and force it to withdraw from Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is quite confident that India will agree to make Russia accountable for the war crimes committed in Ukraine.