Moscow: ‘Namaste’ was the mode of greeting when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh landed in Russia for the crucial Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting late on Wednesday night.
He folded his hands and greeted top Russian officials with the traditional Indian “Namaste“, reported NDTV.
“Reached Moscow this evening. Looking forward to my bilateral meeting with the Russian Counterpart General Sergey Shoygu tomorrow,” he tweeted, along with a video of him being welcomed by Major General Bukhteev Yury Nikolaevich at the Moscow airport.
The video shows the minister, accompanied by Indian Ambassador to Russia, DB Venkatesh Varma, walking up to the Russian officials. Wearing a mask, Rajnath Singh folded his hands in “Namaste” as the top Russian army officer saluted him and then reciprocated with a “Namaste“.
The Defence Minister greeted all the Russian officials with a Namaste. When one of them extended his hand, the minister appeared to insist on greeting him with a Namaste, the report added.
Здравствуйте Russia!
Reached Moscow this evening. Looking forward to my bilateral meeting with the Russian Counterpart General Sergey Shoygu tomorrow. https://t.co/FgayfbJIIR— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 2, 2020