Global Desk: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a special welcome with a special gesture when he landed in Papua New Guinea for the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Corporation (FIPIC) on Sunday, May 20.
Upen his arrival at an airport in the country. Its Prime Minister James Marape offered his hospitality and respects by touching the feed of Modi, who is reportedly also the first Indian prime minister to have visited the island nation. Although, according to the Papua New Guinea’s usual practice, it soes not offer any ceremonial welcome to any world leader if they arrive after sunset. However, it made an exception for Prime Minister Modi.
The picture of the gesture by James Marape went viral on the social media. Many leaders of the ruling party in India along with the admirers of the prime minister also shared the picture on their social platforms.
Modi also thanked Marape for the special gesture through a tweet where he said that, “Reached Papua New Guinea. I am thankful to PM James Marape for coming to the airport and welcoming me. This is a very special gesture which I will always remember. I look forward to boosting India’s ties with this great nation during my visit.”
Touching feet of elders in India is a very common ritual, however a leader of a different country doing so was something is surely something exceptional.