‘Neglected’ Indian newspapers all agog over Modi’s Japan visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been frequently accused of cold-shouldering the press; but the same newspapers have nothing but laurels to shower on his ''successful'' five-day visit to Japan, which ended on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering the keynote address at a seminar hosted by Jetro and Nikkei in Tokyo, Japan, on 2 September 2014

Apart from drawing a commitment of $35 billion worth of Japanese investment in Indian infrastructure, Modi also managed to wangle Japan's first sale of military hardware since World War II in the form of a modern amphibious aircraft.

Modi also promised Japanese companies entering India to fast-track their projects, promising a ''red carpet'' rather than ''red tape'' welcome.

The newspapers can hardly get over themselves yet. "Prime Ministers Abe and Modi share warm ties. Now they have a chance to work together and take the strong ties that the two countries have to a new economic relationship, even as they work together on other fronts," says The Tribune.

Columnist Kanwal Sibal says in the Hindustan Times that Modi's visit will certainly boost India-Japan ties.

"Much has been achieved during Modi's just-concluded visit … Modi, clearly enthused by Abe's extraordinary gestures, has voiced his 'confidence, excitement and optimism' about India-Japan relations. The current has surely passed between the two leaders."

But some papers also pointed out his diplomatic blunder in making an indirect invective against its far bigger neighbour China.

"While Mr Modi's Japan visit was a success … his comment on the 'expansionist' tendencies of some countries was needless … surely India can improve ties with Japan without baiting China," said the Deccan Herald.(See: China reacts cautiously to Modi's 'expansionist' remarks)

Newspapers and websites are also upbeat about the Sensex and Nifty scaling "new historic peaks" on surging fund inflows.

India's main stock market, the Sensex, surpassed the 27,000 mark and the Nifty touched 8,100 on Tuesday.

"The sentiment has been very positive as investors are buying into the India story which has seen some encouraging signs like improved GDP growth, likely funding support from Japan and soft crude prices," a report in the Zee News quotes analyst Sanjeev Zarbade as saying.