NEW DELHI: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to observe a nine-day fast during his upcoming visit to the United States. Modi will make his maiden speech to the UN General Assembly during the visit.

Local media reports said he would restrict himself to a liquid diet of lemonade and tea during the fast, meaning he will miss out on the lavish meals that traditionally characterize such visits.

Modi’s office would not comment, although a senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity that “the prime minister’s fasting will have no bearing on his engagements in the US.”

“Engagements will take place as per schedule,” the official added.

Modi will begin his US visit in New York, where he will address the General Assembly on Saturday and then attend a rally of Indian Americans before flying on to Washington. His White House visit will be a remarkable transformation for a man once refused a US visa over accusations he failed to stop 2002 violence against India’s Muslim minority.