Working class champions and savvy social-media users: What PM Modi has in common with Indonesian President

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta and held informal discussions before their delegation-level talks.Prime Minister Modi, who arrived last night on his first-ever official visit to Indonesia, was accorded a red-carpet welcome on his arrival at the Merdeka palace, one of the presidential palaces in Indonesia.

PM Modi’s on his first visit to Indonesia and he has a lot in common with Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo. Both of them are from humble backgrounds and gained prominence by vanquishing powerful political dynasties.

Widodo’s father was a carpenter and he defeated Suharto to become President. He is the first president of Indonesia who’s neither from the country’s political elite nor was an army general.  

Both of them were party outsiders who rose to power thanks to their personal charisma and share a distinct connection with the working class.Their leaderships are welcomed by investors and their wins coincide with spurs in currency and stock gains.

Interestingly, he’s a regular social media users and regularly uploads videos on YouTube including a lunch he hosted for King Salman of Saudi Arabia which had over two million views. Last year, PM Modi’s picture visiting a temple in Odisha was the most-liked picture on Facebook.

(Jokowi taking the metro: Twitter)

As an aside, Jokowi also resembles former US president Barack Obama who had spent some time of his childhood in Indonesia.  

Before the tete-e-tete between the two leaders, President Widodo welcomed Prime Minister Modi at the palace.

"Relationship that evokes a feeling of warmth and kinship. A red carpet welcome and a guard of honour extended to PM @narendramodi on his arrival at Istana Merdeka ahead of his talks with President @jokowi," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Modi and Widodo would discuss bilateral cooperation in a broad range of areas, including maritime, trade and investment.

PM Modi and President Joko (Twitter)

The two leaders would also attend some events, including a CEO Business Forum organised by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and the Industry, and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi laid a wreath at the Kalibata National Heroes' Cemetery here.

"Paid tributes at the iconic Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta," Modi tweeted in both Indonesian and English along with his pictures.

Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery in South Jakarta is a military cemetery in Indonesia. It was built in 1953 and opened in November 1954 when the first burial took place.

"Lest we forget...Paying homage to martyrs of Indonesian independence struggle! PM @narendramodi laying wreath at the Kalibata National Heroes' Cemetery and signing the Visitor's Book," Kumar tweeted. 

More than 7,000 people who are military casualties and veterans from Indonesian War of Independence are buried at the cemetery.

Modi arrived in the Indonesian capital yesterday on the first leg of his three-nation tour to East Asia to cement the political, economic and strategic interest of the two friendly maritime neighbours

With inputs from PTI