By Shaun Tandon and Aurelia End
A flurry of US, India deals as Biden, Modi meet
US President Joe Biden on Thursday hailed a "defining partnership" with India as he rolled out the red carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sealing major defence and technology deals as Washington bets on New Delhi as a counterweight to China.
Modi is being feted with the pomp and circumstance of a state visit, only the third of Biden's presidency, in a calculated display of his open support for the US – despite quiet unrest over India's refusal to break with Russia and what rights groups see as the Hindu nationalist leader's growing authoritarianism.
As about 7,000 Indian Americans gathered on the South Lawn of the White House to cheer him on, Modi, dressed in a white kurta and sky blue jacket, walked the red carpet to a military salute as Biden welcomed him.
