400km for a Handshake: Indian in Argentina Greets PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Argentina as part of his five-nation diplomatic tour sparked emotional moments among the Indian diaspora — especially for Vijay Kumar Gupta, who travelled 400 kilometers from Rosario to Buenos Aires for a single reason: to greet his prime minister in person.

Speaking to ANI, Gupta said, “I came all the way just to say hello to PM Modi. And I was lucky enough to shake his hand.” A video of the interaction was posted online, showing the joy and excitement of the expatriate community gathered at the venue.

Modi landed in Buenos Aires on Saturday and was greeted with loud chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Modi-Modi’ and ‘Jai Shree Ram’ by enthusiastic members of the Indian community gathered outside his hotel.

Strengthening Ties with Argentina

Modi’s Argentina stop marks the third leg of his international tour, after visiting Ghana and Trinidad & Tobago. He is scheduled to meet Argentine President Javier Milei to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

In a post on X, PM Modi said:

“Landed in Buenos Aires for a bilateral visit which will focus on augmenting relations with Argentina. I’m eager to meet President Javier Milei and hold detailed discussions.”

This visit is significant, as it’s the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in nearly six decades.

Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, also shared that the ceremonial welcome to Modi reflected the “enduring friendship” between the two nations.

Following Argentina, PM Modi will head to Brazil and Namibia to conclude his five-nation diplomatic outreach, aimed at expanding India’s global partnerships.