Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the memorial in Bishkek ahead of his participation in 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Leadership Summit.
The statue was unveiled by PM Modi during his visit to Kyrgyzstan in the year 2015.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “In Bishkek this morning, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in the city. Gandhi Ji’s thoughts will always have an unparalleled impact on our minds.”
The Prime Minister also met people from various communities in Bishkek. PM Modi received a book named Manas: Kyrgyz Veergatha Kavya from them.
“Met a group of people who have a close association with India. This includes prominent diaspora members, those passionate about the environment, Yoga enthusiasts, academics, ITEC alumni, researchers and more. Happy to see such continuous engagement with India. One of the Yoga practitioners was in Ahmedabad for the World Yogasana Championship and won a medal,” said PM Modi.
After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Danil Rykov, President of the Yoga Federation of Kyrgyzstan, said, “Ten years ago, I had my first experience with yoga, specifically Kundalini yoga. It started with simple lessons from a YouTube channel, but after that, I became more interested in yoga. I had many gurus from Kyrgyzstan and India, and yoga changed my life. I am now the President of the Yoga Federation of Kyrgyzstan. I am very happy to have met Modi Ji, and we want support from India and the Indian government to promote yoga as a sport in Kyrgyzstan.”
Jyldyz Kuvatova, founder of the Art of Living Foundation in Kyrgyzstan and a professor at the American University of Central Asia, said, “I have been teaching yoga at the Art of Living Foundation in Kyrgyzstan since 2017. We met Prime Minister Modi here and are very grateful for all his support for yoga, which we have seen since he became Prime Minister. It was very exciting and inspirational for us to move forward and promote yoga further in Kyrgyzstan because of the benefits it can bring to society, healthcare and the education system.”
Arina Niiazbekova, a Hatha yoga instructor, said, “I am a Hatha yoga instructor from Kyrgyzstan. Today, we had a meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi, and it was very exciting for all of us. First of all, I want to express my gratitude and thank the Prime Minister for his great support for yoga instructors around the world. As for me, I have been to India twice, where I completed educational courses.”
PM Modi also met and interacted with members of the Indian community in Bishkek.
Speaking about the meeting, Aditya Bhushan Mitra, Director of Pylon Traders, based in Kyrgyzstan, said, “Namaskar. It was an incredible experience being here. For me, it was an incredible opportunity and felt just like a dream come true.”
According to the MEA, PM Modi has arrived to participate in the 26th SCO Leadership Summit, which brings together 10 member states, 15 partner countries, and two observer countries to advance dialogue and cooperation on regional and global issues.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, which include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and others.
His arrival in Bishkek on Sunday marks the second leg of his two-country visit after concluding his State Visit to Uzbekistan, where he held extensive talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
During the Uzbekistan visit, India and Uzbekistan elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to expand cooperation across trade and investment, infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, energy, space, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, and culture. The two countries also set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 5 billion by 2030, with a focus on improving market access, connectivity, and banking and payment systems.
Before leaving Tashkent, PM Modi thanked President Mirziyoyev for the hospitality extended to him during the visit. “Thank you, Uzbekistan! Gratitude to President Mirziyoyev for his warmth, attention to detail, and personal commitment to the India-Uzbekistan friendship,” PM Modi said.
During his State Visit, PM Modi also paid a floral tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent.
(With ANI inputs)
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