With focus on Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Indian Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana starting November 16th. The first stop of the three-country tour will be the oil-rich West African country Nigeria, where PM Modi will be focusing on strengthening ties and will hold a meeting with President Bola Tinubu. Nigeria has the largest economy and is the most populated country on the African continent. The OPEC country was invited as one of the guest countries during the Delhi G20 summit in 2023.

The Indian Prime Minister will then travel to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro from November 17th to 19th for the annual G20 summit, a group of 20 leading economies of the world. India is part of the G20 troika, along with Brazil and South Africa, which is a transition governance structure in grouping. Last year, India hosted the summit in Delhi, during which the G20 Presidency gavel was handed by PM Modi to Brazilian President Luiz da Silva. 
 
PM Modi travelled to Brazil in 2014 for the 6th BRICS Summit and in 2019 for the 11th BRICS Summit. In 2020, the then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited India, during which he was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-worker-found-dead-inside-party-office-in-indias-west-bengal-woman-arrested-774908">BJP worker found dead inside party office in India's West Bengal, woman arrested</a>

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The summit will see the attendance of several world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden. This will be the last major global summit President Biden attends ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President on January 20th, 2025.

The last leg of PM Modi's visit will be to Guyana from the 19th to 21st of November. During the visit, PM will hold talks with President Irfaan Ali. India has significantly increased ties with the country in several domains, including defence, and energy. Delhi has been reaching out to Guyana with credit facilities for agriculture, information technology, and capacity building via the ITEC programme.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/another-encounter-in-indias-j-k-exchange-of-fire-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-srinagar-774924">Two encounters break out in India's Jammu and Kashmir within hours. Know more</a>

The Indian diaspora in Guyana, known as Indo-Guyanese, is a significant part of the country, and, at 40 per cent, it constitutes the largest ethnic group in the South American country. Most of them trace their origin to the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. President Ali himself is of Indian ancestry and was invited as the Chief Guest for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in India last year. The first group of Indians are known to have arrived in the country in 1838, over 180 years ago, to work in sugarcane plantations.

During the visit to Guyana, PM Modi will also chair the India CARICOM, or Caribbean summit. The summit is part of India's outreach to the Caribbean nations. The inaugural summit took place in 2019 in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Focus during the summit will be on trade, investments, and India's support for infrastructure projects in these countries.

With focus on Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Indian Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana starting November 16th. The first stop of the three-country tour will be the oil-rich West African country Nigeria, where PM Modi will be focusing on strengthening ties and will hold a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

With focus on Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Indian Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana starting November 16th. The first stop of the three-country tour will be the oil-rich West African country Nigeria, where PM Modi will be focusing on strengthening ties and will hold a meeting with President Bola Tinubu. Nigeria has the largest economy and is the most populated country on the African continent. The OPEC country was invited as one of the guest countries during the Delhi G20 summit in 2023. The Indian Prime Minister will then travel to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro from November 17th to 19th for the annual G20 summit, a group of 20 leading economies of the world. India is part of the G20 troika, along with Brazil and South Africa, which is a transition governance structure in grouping. Last year, India hosted the summit in Delhi, during which the G20 Presidency gavel was handed by PM Modi to Brazilian President Luiz da Silva. PM Modi travelled to Brazil in 2014 for the 6th BRICS Summit and in 2019 for the 11th BRICS Summit. In 2020, the then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited India, during which he was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations. Also read | BJP worker found dead inside party office in India's West Bengal, woman arrested On the sidelines of the G20 summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The summit will see the attendance of several world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden. This will be the last major global summit President Biden attends ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President on January 20th, 2025. The last leg of PM Modi's visit will be to Guyana from the 19th to 21st of November. During the visit, PM will hold talks with President Irfaan Ali. India has significantly increased ties with the country in several domains, including defence, and energy. Delhi has been reaching out to Guyana with credit facilities for agriculture, information technology, and capacity building via the ITEC programme. Also read | Two encounters break out in India's Jammu and Kashmir within hours. Know more The Indian diaspora in Guyana, known as Indo-Guyanese, is a significant part of the country, and, at 40 per cent, it constitutes the largest ethnic group in the South American country. Most of them trace their origin to the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. President Ali himself is of Indian ancestry and was invited as the Chief Guest for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in India last year. The first group of Indians are known to have arrived in the country in 1838, over 180 years ago, to work in sugarcane plantations. During the visit to Guyana, PM Modi will also chair the India CARICOM, or Caribbean summit. The summit is part of India's outreach to the Caribbean nations. The inaugural summit took place in 2019 in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Focus during the summit will be on trade, investments, and India's support for infrastructure projects in these countries.

PM Modi to travel to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana this month

On June 8, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will script history by addressing the Parliament of the Republic of Maldives. The address will be keenly watched across the neighbourhood.&nbsp;

Since Modi became prime minister in 2014, India’s foreign policy and camaraderie with various nations, saw a new lease of vibrancy. PM Modi completed various other milestones as well while making these trips. Significant among them is his address to parliaments of various countries, across continents which shows India’s rising profile of influence in the world order.

Modi was invited to address parliaments of 10 countries including US and Australia during his first term as prime minister.&nbsp;

Modi addressed the Joint Session of the Parliament of Bhutan on June 16, 2014 during which he appreciated the ''sense of unity'' between the two countries.

Similarly, during his address in Nepal, &nbsp;Modi said strengthening the relationship with Nepal was one of the top priorities of his government.

Fiji, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, &nbsp;Mongolia, Uganda are some of the other countries where Modi addressed the parliaments during his first tenure as prime minister of India.&nbsp;

“I applaud, India applauds the great sacrifices of the men and women from the land of the free and the home of the brave in service of mankind. India knows what this means, because our soldiers have fallen in distant battlefields for the same ideals. That is why the threads of freedom and liberty form a strong bond between our two democracies,” he said during address US Congress on June 10, 2016.

On June 8, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will script history by addressing the Parliament of the Republic of Maldives. The address will be keenly watched across the neighbourhood.

On June 8, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will script history by addressing the Parliament of the Republic of Maldives. The address will be keenly watched across the neighbourhood. Since Modi became prime minister in 2014, India’s foreign policy and camaraderie with various nations, saw a new lease of vibrancy. PM Modi completed various other milestones as well while making these trips. Significant among them is his address to parliaments of various countries, across continents which shows India’s rising profile of influence in the world order. Modi was invited to address parliaments of 10 countries including US and Australia during his first term as prime minister. Modi addressed the Joint Session of the Parliament of Bhutan on June 16, 2014 during which he appreciated the ''sense of unity'' between the two countries. Similarly, during his address in Nepal, Modi said strengthening the relationship with Nepal was one of the top priorities of his government. Fiji, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Uganda are some of the other countries where Modi addressed the parliaments during his first tenure as prime minister of India. “I applaud, India applauds the great sacrifices of the men and women from the land of the free and the home of the brave in service of mankind. India knows what this means, because our soldiers have fallen in distant battlefields for the same ideals. That is why the threads of freedom and liberty form a strong bond between our two democracies,” he said during address US Congress on June 10, 2016.

PM Modi’s international visits and its transformative change in India’s foreign policy 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leaving for the Maldives and Sri Lanka on Saturday which will be his first foreign visit after the general elections.&nbsp;

It is after 8 years that an Indian PM will be on a state visit to the Maldives, the last was by Manmohan Singh in 2011. During the visit, PM will address Maldivian Parliament, the Majlis and meet the top leadership. Many Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are expected to be signed including training of civil servants, customs and white shipping.

While given details of the visit, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, "The PM's visit is focused on three objectives, firstly it is to maintain contact at the highest level between the close neighbours, to assist the Maldives as a development partner, and to strengthen people to people contact" 
&nbsp; 
Defence

Both PM Modi and President Solih will jointly inaugurate two defence related projects -- One is the coastal surveillance radar system and composite training centre for Maldives national defence forces (MNDF) -- at a total cost of $180 crores. The composite training centre was requested by the Maldives to provide a central training facility and "will enhance the capability of MNDF", according to FS Gokhale. The coastal surveillance radar system will help Malé monitor white shipping and preserve its sovereignty in EEZ or exclusive economic zone.

Cricket

The Maldives is keen to have its own cricket team and a cricket stadium and asked for Indian assistance. India in May sent a team of BCCI to the Maldives for the training of Maldivian cricketers.&nbsp;

India has given cricket kits and is expected to coach Maldivian cricketers. Earlier, India had invited President Solih in April for an IPL match in Bengaluru. India sees it as important "people to people" exercise and has in the past helped countries like Afghanistan.

Connectivity

India is planning to start a ferry service from Kochi to the Maldives which the foreign secretary said will "significantly enhance connectivity".&nbsp;

India is also working on 14 high impact community projects which involves connectivity within the island, drug rehab centre and the total cost is Rs 50 crore. New Delhi also plans to provide speed boats for students.

Earlier this year, India and Maldives signed a visa facilitation agreement that came to force in March 2018 and New Delhi has pledged budgetary support of $ 200 million, of which $ 50 million has been given in cash and rest $150 in treasury bills. Both are finalising a currency swap agreement.&nbsp;

A line of credit of $ 800 million has been granted for water supply and sewerage for 36 islands, Addu urban development centre and SME development financing project, among several projects. In fact, India is also supporting Male's climate change efforts with the grants of LED bulbs for the capital.

In the last 8 months, since the new government led by President Solih took charge in November 2018, there have been a number of high-level visits.&nbsp;

While President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, ForeignMinister Abdulla Shahid &amp; Defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi all have visited India, PM Modi was in the country for the swearing-in ceremony of Solih and former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited the country in March of 2019.

Relationship between the two countries had suffered under the previous Yameen regime who had junked pro-India policy for a pro-china policy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leaving for the Maldives and Sri Lanka on Saturday which will be his first foreign visit after the general elections. It is after 8 years that an Indian PM will be on a state visit to the Maldives, the last was by Manmohan Singh in 2011.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leaving for the Maldives and Sri Lanka on Saturday which will be his first foreign visit after the general elections. It is after 8 years that an Indian PM will be on a state visit to the Maldives, the last was by Manmohan Singh in 2011. During the visit, PM will address Maldivian Parliament, the Majlis and meet the top leadership. Many Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are expected to be signed including training of civil servants, customs and white shipping. While given details of the visit, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, "The PM's visit is focused on three objectives, firstly it is to maintain contact at the highest level between the close neighbours, to assist the Maldives as a development partner, and to strengthen people to people contact" Defence Both PM Modi and President Solih will jointly inaugurate two defence related projects -- One is the coastal surveillance radar system and composite training centre for Maldives national defence forces (MNDF) -- at a total cost of $180 crores. The composite training centre was requested by the Maldives to provide a central training facility and "will enhance the capability of MNDF", according to FS Gokhale. The coastal surveillance radar system will help Malé monitor white shipping and preserve its sovereignty in EEZ or exclusive economic zone. Cricket The Maldives is keen to have its own cricket team and a cricket stadium and asked for Indian assistance. India in May sent a team of BCCI to the Maldives for the training of Maldivian cricketers. India has given cricket kits and is expected to coach Maldivian cricketers. Earlier, India had invited President Solih in April for an IPL match in Bengaluru. India sees it as important "people to people" exercise and has in the past helped countries like Afghanistan. Connectivity India is planning to start a ferry service from Kochi to the Maldives which the foreign secretary said will "significantly enhance connectivity". India is also working on 14 high impact community projects which involves connectivity within the island, drug rehab centre and the total cost is Rs 50 crore. New Delhi also plans to provide speed boats for students. Earlier this year, India and Maldives signed a visa facilitation agreement that came to force in March 2018 and New Delhi has pledged budgetary support of $ 200 million, of which $ 50 million has been given in cash and rest $150 in treasury bills. Both are finalising a currency swap agreement. A line of credit of $ 800 million has been granted for water supply and sewerage for 36 islands, Addu urban development centre and SME development financing project, among several projects. In fact, India is also supporting Male's climate change efforts with the grants of LED bulbs for the capital. In the last 8 months, since the new government led by President Solih took charge in November 2018, there have been a number of high-level visits. While President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, ForeignMinister Abdulla Shahid & Defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi all have visited India, PM Modi was in the country for the swearing-in ceremony of Solih and former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited the country in March of 2019. Relationship between the two countries had suffered under the previous Yameen regime who had junked pro-India policy for a pro-china policy.

Cricket, connectivity and defence top focus during PM Modi's Maldives visit  

DMK chief M K Stalin lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday, saying he did not like socialism, democracy and secularism and also took potshots at his foreign trips, describing him as the "non-resident prime minister".

Stalin, who has sharpened his attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led regime at the Centre ever since he took over the reigns of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in August, targeted the prime minister while addressing a wedding event here.

"Modi does not like socialism, democracy and secularism. His thoughts are about (industrialists) Adani and Ambani. We have heard about a non-resident Indian, but Modi is the non-resident prime minister," he said.

The DMK chief said he would have not been bothered about Modi's "84 foreign trips", had they "fetched results and brought honour for the nation".

However, it had only led to an expenditure running into crores of rupees, he said.

Accusing the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu of having an unquestioning attitude in respect of the Centre, "be it implementing NEET or imposition of Hindi", Stalin claimed that this was the reason for its government's continuation in power.

He, however, did not elaborate on how and in what manner Hindi was thrust upon Tamil Nadu.

Stalin also hit out at the AIADMK government, saying its thoughts hovered around "commission, collection and corruption", a pet slogan and summary of his slew of charges against the incumbent regime.

"The time has come to end all such things," he said and exhorted the DMK cadre to work for the party's victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha election and for the polls to 20 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

The DMK leader reiterated that he would not be surprised if the Assembly election and the Lok Sabha polls were held simultaneously.

His remark was an apparent indication to the question of longevity the AIADMK government faced in view of the disqualification of the 18 ruling party MLAs backing Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader T T V Dhinakaran.

The Madras High Court had recently upheld their disqualification and the debarred legislators had said they would not appeal against the verdict.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

DMK chief M K Stalin lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday, saying he did not like socialism, democracy and secularism and also took potshots at his foreign trips, describing him as the "non-resident prime minister".

DMK chief M K Stalin lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday, saying he did not like socialism, democracy and secularism and also took potshots at his foreign trips, describing him as the "non-resident prime minister". Stalin, who has sharpened his attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led regime at the Centre ever since he took over the reigns of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in August, targeted the prime minister while addressing a wedding event here. "Modi does not like socialism, democracy and secularism. His thoughts are about (industrialists) Adani and Ambani. We have heard about a non-resident Indian, but Modi is the non-resident prime minister," he said. The DMK chief said he would have not been bothered about Modi's "84 foreign trips", had they "fetched results and brought honour for the nation". However, it had only led to an expenditure running into crores of rupees, he said. Accusing the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu of having an unquestioning attitude in respect of the Centre, "be it implementing NEET or imposition of Hindi", Stalin claimed that this was the reason for its government's continuation in power. He, however, did not elaborate on how and in what manner Hindi was thrust upon Tamil Nadu. Stalin also hit out at the AIADMK government, saying its thoughts hovered around "commission, collection and corruption", a pet slogan and summary of his slew of charges against the incumbent regime. "The time has come to end all such things," he said and exhorted the DMK cadre to work for the party's victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha election and for the polls to 20 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. The DMK leader reiterated that he would not be surprised if the Assembly election and the Lok Sabha polls were held simultaneously. His remark was an apparent indication to the question of longevity the AIADMK government faced in view of the disqualification of the 18 ruling party MLAs backing Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader T T V Dhinakaran. The Madras High Court had recently upheld their disqualification and the debarred legislators had said they would not appeal against the verdict.

Modi is 'non-resident prime minister'; does not like socialism, democracy: MK Stalin

India&#39;s Central Information Commission (CIC) has sought files related to foreign travels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the external affairs ministry (MEA). The MEA had refused to answer a Right to Information (RTI) query requesting access to these documents citing security concerns.

Commodore (retired) Lokesh Batra had sought these details to assess the expenditure incurred Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s foreign travels.

Chief information commissioner Radha Krishna Mathur directed the MEA to peruse the files to ascertain whether there were any security concerns in the records on the basis of which information can be denied. &quot;The Commission observed that without perusal of the file&nbsp;it cannot be decided that whether the sought for information contains security related information,&quot; Mathur said, directing the ministry to produce one representative file before it.

Batra told the CIC that the case involved&nbsp;substantive public interest as the bailout amount being given to Air India, reported to be in thousands of crores of rupees, is tax-payers&#39; money. He said his RTI application sought information on four points -- details of expenses incurred on air travel during foreign visits of the incumbent Prime Minister and former prime ministers, the laid-down instructions, procedure&nbsp;involved in charting flights for PM&#39;s foreign visits and later filing &#39;flight returns&#39; and raising invoices, and clearance of bills on completion of the visit, copy of bills, etc.

Batra told the Commission that the website of the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (PMO), as on September 13, 2016, was showing that the bills were under process for payment, or were not received for journeys undertaken by the PM between June 15, 2014 and September 8, 2016.

He said there is a need for reforms by understanding the causes of long delays in payments to Air India. In its response, MEA told Batra that the details of PM&#39;s flight expenses contained information with security implications and were exempted from disclosure under section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act.

The ministry said in view of security reasons, the file inspection by the appellant cannot be allowed.

(PTI)

The details are being sought to assess expenditure, but the external affairs ministry has refused to provide the same

India's Central Information Commission (CIC) has sought files related to foreign travels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the external affairs ministry (MEA). The MEA had refused to answer a Right to Information (RTI) query requesting access to these documents citing security concerns. Commodore (retired) Lokesh Batra had sought these details to assess the expenditure incurred Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign travels. Chief information commissioner Radha Krishna Mathur directed the MEA to peruse the files to ascertain whether there were any security concerns in the records on the basis of which information can be denied. "The Commission observed that without perusal of the file it cannot be decided that whether the sought for information contains security related information," Mathur said, directing the ministry to produce one representative file before it. Batra told the CIC that the case involved substantive public interest as the bailout amount being given to Air India, reported to be in thousands of crores of rupees, is tax-payers' money. He said his RTI application sought information on four points -- details of expenses incurred on air travel during foreign visits of the incumbent Prime Minister and former prime ministers, the laid-down instructions, procedure involved in charting flights for PM's foreign visits and later filing 'flight returns' and raising invoices, and clearance of bills on completion of the visit, copy of bills, etc. Batra told the Commission that the website of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), as on September 13, 2016, was showing that the bills were under process for payment, or were not received for journeys undertaken by the PM between June 15, 2014 and September 8, 2016. He said there is a need for reforms by understanding the causes of long delays in payments to Air India. In its response, MEA told Batra that the details of PM's flight expenses contained information with security implications and were exempted from disclosure under section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act. The ministry said in view of security reasons, the file inspection by the appellant cannot be allowed. (PTI)

India: Information commission seeks details of PM Modi's foreign visit expenses