Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a 101-year-old former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer in Kuwait, after a request made by his granddaughter on the social media platform X.

Just hours before his scheduled arrival in Kuwait, PM Modi saw a message from Mangal Sain Handa’s granddaughter, urging him to meet her grandfather. In her post, she wrote, “Humble request to Hon’ble PM @narendramodi to meet my 101-year-old Nanaji, ex-IFS officer, in Kuwait during tomorrow’s interaction with the Indian Diaspora. Nana @MangalSainHanda is a great admirer of yours.”

Upon arrival, PM Modi met with the former IFS officer alongside other members of the Indian community. Mangal Sain Handa’s son, Dilip Handa, expressed his gratitude, telling ANI, “This is an experience of a lifetime. PM Modi said he especially came here to meet him (my father). We are grateful to Prime Minister Modi.”

This visit marks the first time in 43 years that an Indian Prime Minister has travelled to Kuwait, with the last visit being by Indira Gandhi in 1981, according to reports. The Indian diaspora in Kuwait is notably large, comprising 21% (approximately 1 million) of the country’s total population, and Indian workers make up 30% of the workforce there (around 900,000).

A Trinamool Congress leader was found dead in a hotel at the Mandarmani sea resort in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district on Saturday morning, sparking tension in the vicinity.

The deceased has been identified as Abul Nasar, 34, a prominent leader from the Amdanga area in North 24 Parganas district.

Police have detained a woman who accompanied him to the hotel for questioning. The circumstances surrounding the leader’s death—whether it was a suicide or a murder—will be clarified after the post-mortem report is completed, according to a police official.

The situation has escalated, as Nasar’s wife, who serves as a deputy panchayat chief for the Trinamool party, has claimed that his death was a murder, prompting the Mandarmani Coastal Police Station to launch an investigation.

On Saturday morning, a hotel staff member found Nasar’s body hanging in his room. At the time, the room was empty, and the woman who had accompanied him was also missing. The hotel management promptly notified local police, who arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and sent it for a post-mortem examination. Subsequently, the woman was apprehended and taken to the local police station for questioning.

The police have filed a case of unnatural death regarding the incident. “At first glance, it appears to be a case of suicide; however, we will only confirm this after the autopsy report is released,” stated a district police official.

Meanwhile, local Trinamool leadership has dismissed any political implications surrounding the death. They noted that Abul Nasar was actively involved in local politics, and his passing represents a significant loss for the party’s local organisation.

The Congress on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as the “frequent flyer PM” as he traveled to Kuwait while the residents of Manipur await his presence in their violence-affected region.

Modi’s two-day visit to Kuwait, commencing on December 21, 2024, aims to strengthen connections in various sectors, including defense and trade.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, took to X to express his sentiments: “Such is their fate, as Modi refuses to find a date. The people of Manipur continue to wait while the Frequent Flyer PM is off to Kuwait.”

The Congress has consistently called on Modi to visit Manipur, arguing that his presence could aid in restoring peace and normalcy to the troubled State. Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 of the previous year during a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts, protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Since then, over 220 individuals from both the Meitei and Kuki communities, along with security personnel, have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.

PM Modi’s trip comes shortly after recent political developments in the region, including the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and ongoing tensions due to the Israeli offensive in Gaza. During his stay, he plans to hold talks with key Kuwaiti officials and meet with the Indian community.

In his departure statement, PM Modi emphasised the importance of his discussions with the Kuwaiti leadership, highlighting them as a chance to establish a roadmap for a future-oriented partnership between India and Kuwait.

He stated, “We deeply value the historical connection with Kuwait that has been nurtured over generations. We are not just strong trade and energy partners but also share interests in peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the West Asia region.”

The Prime Minister expressed enthusiasm for his meetings with the Emir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait. Additionally, he will attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in the country. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.