President Biden and Jill are welcoming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House for a state visit as I write this. I’m listening to Biden mumble and bumble through yet another speech welcoming a foreign leader. Fortunately this time Jill is present to guide her dazed and confused husband to where he needs to stand.

It is important for Biden to work on developing a stronger working relationship with India, the most populous country in the world, and the most populous democracy. A strong partnership can work as a counter to the growing alliance forming between China and Russia. I enjoy the official welcoming ceremonies at the White House. The pomp and circumstance signifies an important visitor’s arrival. Modi’s visit will include only the third state dinner since Biden’s been in the White House. A state visit is the highest form of diplomacy. Biden is counting on Modi to come on board with his agenda, including climate change initiatives and advancing technology. It remains to be seen if Biden can pull that off.

Biden was in California raising money for his campaign for re-election yesterday when Modi arrived in Washington for a three-day state visit. It was left to Jill Biden to make a joint appearance with him at a workforce event at the National Science Foundation. He gifted her with an eco-friendly lab-grown 7.5-carat green diamond. It was presented in a papier mache box from Kashmir. Papier-mâché is a handicraft of Kashmir that was brought by a Muslim saint from Persia in the 14th century to medieval India.

It’s a manmade gemstone. When he presented it to her, she held it on her ring finger, no doubt thinking of turning it into a ring for herself. Can she keep it? In 1966, the Foreign Gifts and Declarations Act came into place that put a limit to the value of a gift a president could accept, with most gifts going directly to the National Archives after being presented. The value of gifts that the US president can keep is currently set at $375. It is rare but presidents and other government officials can purchase a gift they were given in office if they pay the market value of the item. For example, Hillary Clinton purchased a black pearly necklace for $970 that had been given to her by Myanmar’s Aung Sang Suu Kyi. So, in Jill’s case, it depends on the market value of a manmade diamond and if she abides by the law and pays that amount for it, assuming it is more than $375.

Thank you for hospitality, @POTUS @JoeBiden and @FLOTUS @DrBiden. pic.twitter.com/m1z2GcHrw9

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2023

Biden and Jill had what is being described as an “intimate” dinner with Modi Wednesday night. Then the official welcome happened at the White House this morning with all the trappings.

Some of the progressive Democrats will boycott Modi’s address to Congress today. Some lawmakers and human rights advocates are critical of India’s reluctance to break with Russia in Putin’s war in Ukraine. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the Intelligence Committee chair and a co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, released a statement.

“Prime Minister Modi’s visit has tremendous potential to deepen the bonds between our countries, and expand a number of lines of cooperation, from strengthening defense relations to increased collaboration in the tech realm,” Warner said. “In the face of rising global authoritarianism, it is more important than ever for our countries — as the world’s two largest democracies — to respect and reaffirm the shared values that are the foundation of both of our countries, and to bolster democracy, universal human rights, tolerance and pluralism, and equal opportunity for all citizens.”

Senator Cornyn (R-TX), co-chair of the India caucus, agreed. He introduced legislation Wednesday to add India to the list of favored nations for U.S. arms sales under the Arms Export Control Act. Others on that list include NATO members and Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. The goal is to move U.S. ties with India to the point where India breaks its dependence on Russian military equipment.

“We need to continue to encourage India to align itself with the democracies in the world and not the autocracies,” Cornyn said. “And obviously, history is a big influence here, because since — what, 1947? — the United States has been more aligned with Pakistan, and India was then forced in the arms of Russia. And obviously, they’re very dependent, still, on Russian weapons.”

Still, 70 Democrats sent a letter to Biden before the state dinner for Modi asking him to “raise directly with Prime Minister Modi areas of concern” about India. Some progressives will make a statement by boycotting Modi’s speech.

“A series of independent, credible reports reflect troubling signs in India toward the shrinking of political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, and growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access,” the lawmakers wrote, adding that they seek a discussion about a “full range of issues important to a successful, strong, and long-term relationship between our two great countries.”

Some progressives said they’ll boycott the speech, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. — who said her move was a stance for “pluralism, tolerance and freedom of the press” — as well as Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.

Muslim American activists will protest near the White House. They accuse Modi of promoting Hindu nationalist ideology and anti-minority policies. They object to Biden giving a platform to Modi.