GAY MODI? India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a hugger and no world leader or tech titan can avoid his embrace.
NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to be a tactile man. In official appearances, whether he is meeting a local official or a world statesman, he likes to hug it out.
His fondness of hugging was driven home this week, during an official visit by French President Francois Hollande to India. Even by Modi’s standards this was an unusual embrace, with the Indian leader apparently touching Hollande on the waist while the French leader turned away from him. This followed a more traditional hug from Modi in the moments before.
For some Indians, the hug was an embarrassment and Hollande’s awkward turn was a sign that it was a snafu.
But Modi has been hugging world leaders and other important people for years. It seems unlikely he’ll stop now. Biographer Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay has said the hugs are a conscious effort to make clear he’s on the same level as those he is meeting.” He’s trying to tell the world that he’s an equal, a friend and he’s very affectionate,” Mukhopadhyay told the BBC last year. “Mr Modi is a performer.”
Here’s a small selection of the Modi hug in action.
In this photograph taken Aug. 30, 2014, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embraced by his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, upon Modi’s arrival at the State Guest House in Kyoto.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs President Obama as first lady Michelle Obama looks on upon their arrival at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi on Jan. 25, 2015.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg hug after a Townhall meeting at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Sept. 27, 2015.
Narendra Modi greets Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani on the launch of Vibrant Gujarat 2013 6th Global Summit at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on Jan. 11, 2013.
