5 issues Narendra Modi may address on his US visit

That Narendra Modi is visiting the United States and has already paid visit to the 9/11 memorial is known. Though media reports may suggest a very warm reception for Narendra Modi in the US, there has been opposition to his visit as well. The 'South Asia Solidarity Initiative' has protested against Narendra Modi's visit on the grounds of human rights violation during the 2002 Gujarat riots. View the photo blog here

Meanwhile, the Modi regime which rides high on economic and development agenda may take the stance a notch higher with US visit. Modi who unveiled the 'Make in India' website as a means to make India the centre of industrial production hub to attract investments may talk about the following issues on his US visit. 

1. Seeking permanent membership for India in the United States Security Council (UNSC): With his recent visit, Chinese PM Xi Jinping made his support for India's permanent inclusion into the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) clear. Modi may follow this up and pursue the issue. India's endeavour for permanent membership in the UNSC began in 1955 when the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru reportedly turned down the status offered to India. This was later grabbed by China and India has been trying to make inroads and get membership into the coveted council. 

India was among the original members of the United Nations that signed the Declaration by United Nations at Washington on 1 January 1942 and also participated in the United Nations Conference on International Organization at San Francisco from 25 April to 26 June 1945. 

2. Modi may address Nawaz Sharif's comments on Kashmir and respond: Nawaz Sharif raked up the Kashmir issue in the UN General Assembly on Friday, He said that Pakistan was a victim of terrorism and that people in Kashmiri have suffered due to India. Modi may address this issue with a befitting reply on the global platform. India has always maintained that the entire separatist issue is something India-Pakistan need to find a solution to. With Sharif going all out and attacking India on a global platform, it would be interesting to see Modi's reaction. Also read: Top 4 things Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif said at the United Nations General Assembly

3. Food Security issue and WTO: The deadlock over India sticking to its stand of simultaneous deal on trade facilitation and food security has continued and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has failed to find a feasible solution. The food security issue is high on Narendra Modi’s agenda during the US trip and he may address the issue and follow this up with a dialogue with Barack Obama. Modi is scheduled to meet Obama for an official bilateral meeting in Washington DC on September 29. India had blocked the trade facilitation deal adoption on July 31 and seeking a permanent solution on public procurement for food security simultaneously.

Also read: Narendra Modi meets FAO Director General; says India cannot support trade at the cost of food security

4. India's stand on ISIS spill over threatening global peace: Ever since ISIS expanded and established a caliphate, violence against foreign journalists, aid workers has been increasing. Barack Obama and David Cameron have proclaimed action against the 'deadly group of militants' ISIS/ISIL (Islamic State of Syria and Levant) as France and other countries have joined arms to defeat the Islamist radical group. While Modi hopes for a vibrant foreign relations policy for India, (This was evident from Modi's interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria) he may have to make India's stand against ISIS clear. Read the full report here: I want to win confidence of the people with my actions and not mere speeches: Narendra Modi

5. Investments — Make In India: Narendra Modi launched his government's Make in India campaign with fanfare on Thursday. The objective of 'Make in India' is to make India a manufacturing hub for domestic and foreign companies.The campaign has been rolled out to provide a red carpet to attract industrialists to make India a global manufacturing hub and to help create jobs and boost economic growth. Modi's speech may include this as well to attract investments into India.