New Delhi: Two recent incidents left Prime Minister Narendra Modi deeply touched and humbled when Presidents of two nations decided to personally hold an umbrella for the PM instead of the security staff who are normally entrusted with carrying out such tasks.
Moments after PM Modi arrived in Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, he was extended a ceremonial welcome by the Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov. However, it started raining after which Jeenbekov was seen holding an umbrella for the PM.
Both these incidents can be seen as a perfect example of respect, humility and friendship by breaking a set protocol.
The Ministry of External Affairs defines protocol like a good wine which sets the mood and creates the right atmospherics for the diplomatic and political leadership to move ahead with serious diplomatic business at hand.
As per the diplomatic etiquette, certain protocols are required to be followed when any head of the state visits any country. PM Modi breaks protocol to receive world leaders by visiting the airport to receive them followed by his trademark hug which acts as an icing on the cake.
The PM deftly deploys his signature move to greet global leaders and at times decides not to break the protocol. The visit of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to New Delhi and India giving royal snub to him is the testimony to this fact. It should be remembered that Modi decided not to visit the airport and instead junior minister of agriculture Gajendra Shekhawat was there to receive the Canadian PM. The reason behind this treatment was Trudeau’s tacit and quite overt support to radical and secessionist Sikhs and the fact that Trudeau had attended the separatist group’s Khalsa parade. India has always accused Canada of providing shelter to a few radical Sikh separatists who are a part of the otherwise large Sikh community in Canada, the Indian-origin community being a big voting bloc in that country.
With India’s rising stature at the world stage and Modi coming back to power with a massive majority, it’s a no brainer that world leaders will break many such protocols in the near future.
