Biden announces raft of new deals with Modi amid calls to address human rights concerns

A handful of lawmakers boycotted the Indian prime minister's address to Congress, while protesters gathered near the White House

Joe Biden has pronounced the US-India relationship never stronger and rolled out a series of new business deals on the second day of the Indian prime minister's state visit, but Narendra Modi's trip has been marked with controversy as many call for Biden to address India's continuing crackdown on religious and press freedoms.

An official state visit is the highest-ranked diplomatic invitation extended to a foreign leader and is a sign of the US president's national security priorities as his administration courts India as a partner against China.