Modi-Macron personal bonding on display in Varanasi

As India and France prepare to deepen their cooperation in defence and other fields, the personal bonding between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron was on display during their visit to Varanasi on Monday.

The two leaders walked hand in hand as they descended the stairs at Assi Ghat on the banks of the Ganga while proceeding for their boat ride in the river.  

Modi appeared to don the role of a guide during the visit and was seen explaining to the French President about the various cultural events that were organised on different ghats along the river that the two leaders passed through.

Macron was also seen asking the prime minister about an event that he witnessed while passing through one of the ghats.

Earlier in the day, Modi was seen explaining to the French president about the artefacts that were put on display at the Deen Dayal Handicraft Centre in the town, which was visited by the two leaders before their boat ride. Macron appeared to be eager to know about the live weaving of a woollen carpet and also about the carving of a wooden idol of Lord Ganesha at the centre.

The prime minister and the French president also hugged each other at the Varanasi airport. Modi usually hugs international leaders upon meeting them.

Political analyst J P Shukla said that Modi had personal bonding with heads of several countries and that it came in handy in eliciting their support on thorny international issues.