Iran: PM invokes civilisational ties

Invoking India’s “civilisational ties” with Iran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew in here Sunday on a two-day visit, saying his talks with the Iranian leadership would provide him an opportunity to advance the “strategic partnership” between the two countries.

On the first day of his visit that is expected to strengthen trade, investment and energy ties with Iran, Mr Modi began his engagements paying obeisance to the capital city’s only functioning gurdwara.

Mr Modi’s formal talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani are scheduled for tomorrow morning after a ceremonial welcome for him. Mr Rouhani will also host a lunch for the Indian Premier. He will also call on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before his return home. Mr Modi, the first Indian PM to travel to Iran in 15 years on a bilateral visit after Atal Behari Vajpayee, offered obeisance at the Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara and also spoke to the head priest.

He applauded the efforts of the Sikh community in the Persian Gulf nation for preserving and spreading the culture and tradition of India.

“We accept all the people as our own and absorb them in our society because we believe in the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ — the entire world is one family. Animated by this spirit, we Indians make every country our home,” Mr Modi told the gathering at the gurdwara. In 2012, the then PM Manmohan Singh on a visit here to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit could not visit the gurdwara, but his wife Gursharan Kaur paid her respects there. After landing in Tehran, Mr Modi tweeted, “Reached Iran, a land with whom India shares civilisational ties.”

Hope to enhance economic partnership between our nations. I also hope my Iran visit further cements cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Iran.”

Ahead of his arrival, Mr Modi in a series of tweets said, “Enhancing connectivity, trade, investments, energy partnership, culture and people to people contacts would be our priority.”