Moscow callback: When Modi first met Putin; photos from 2001 go viral

NEW DELHI: As Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to sojourn India for a much-anticipated gathering with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aged images of the 2 leaders person resurfaced online.The photographs, taken successful Moscow successful 2001, amusement Modi — past the Chief Minister of Gujarat — accompanying past Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during an authoritative visit. The visuals, captured during a document-signing ceremony, had archetypal gone viral past twelvemonth erstwhile Modi travelled to Russia, and person reappeared connected societal media up of Putin’s India visit.

Modi had aboriginal recalled however Putin received him warmly contempt his state-level position, engaging successful candid discussions connected states, hobbies, and planetary affairs.

During the 2001 trip, helium signed a protocol statement betwixt Gujarat and Russia’s Astrakhan portion to boost practice successful petrochemicals, hydrocarbons, trade, subject and technology, education, tourism, and culture. He besides visited Moscow’s ISKCON temple to connection prayers connected Vajpayee’s behalf owed to the latter’s wellness condition, spending sizeable clip with devotees.

The sojourn marked Modi’s archetypal planetary engagement arsenic main curate and his aboriginal diplomatic enactment with Putin.

Modi returned to Astrakhan successful 2006 to widen the pact for different 5 years with Governor Alexander Zhilkin, strengthening Gujarat–Russia ties successful vigor and trade. These subnational initiatives aboriginal fed into wider bilateral practice successful defence, energy, and commerce during Modi’s tenure arsenic Prime Minister. Modi has often reminisced astir the 2001 meeting, including receiving a framed photograph from the ISKCON sojourn arsenic a astonishment acquisition during his 2024 enactment successful Moscow.