“I have not come alone, but have brought the smell of the soil and love of 140 crore Indians with me, for you,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Indian diaspora in Russia on 9th July. This was Mr. Modi’s first visit to Russia after the conflict in Ukraine that started in February 2022. While talking to the diaspora, the Indian Prime Minister’s language and overall address remained defensive, assuring fellow Indians about the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)’s initiatives back home. While Modi’s presence in Moscow was largely appreciated by the Indian diaspora, his defensive approach had BJP’s inability to secure the majority and the worsening socio-economic situation hidden.
