Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has featured on the cover of New York-based Newsweek magazine, making him the first prime minister of India to feature on its cover after Indira Gandhi.

This is nothing less than historic and honour for India and its PM.

Seems like its western mainstream media that at least acknowledges India.

Former prime minister Indira Gandhi featured on the cover of the magazine's April 1966 issue. The New York-based magazine interviewed PM Modi in late March through written questions that focussed on India-China border situation, Ram Mandir, Article 370, among others. The written questions were followed up with a 90-minute conversation between PM Modi and Newsweek team.

On ties with China, PM Modi said the border dispute between the two countries needs to be addressed urgently to resolve the "abnormality" in the bilateral interactions.

"For India, the relationship with China is important and significant. It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us," said PM Modi, asserting that a stable India-China relations are important for the entire world.

Diplomatic ties between India and China deteriorated steeply after clashes between their troops in the high-altitude Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region in 2020. Around 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the clashes while China took an unspecified number of casualties, prompting top-level diplomatic and military talks.

The wide-ranging interview with the New York-based magazine also included a host of issues including the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, ties with Pakistan, Quad, the Ram temple, and democracy, among others.

Asked about ties with Pakistan, the PM said he congratulated his Pakistani counterpart when he took charge and asserted that India has always advocated for advancing peace, security, and prosperity in the region in an atmosphere free from terror and violence.

Speaking on the newly-inaugurated Ram temple at Ayodhya, he said the name of Shri Ram is imprinted on India's national consciousness.

On the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi said people have recognised the excellent track record of his government, and continue to support him.