‘I have Indian DNA’: Indonesia President leaves PM Modi, President Murmu in splits

New Delhi: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto quipped at the dinner hosted on Sunday by President Droupadi Murmu that he has ‘Indian DNA’.

Prabowo Subianto’s joke amused everybody at the event including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The President cracked the joke to evoke his country’s deeper connection with India.

President Prabowo Subianto’s had everybody in splits when he said: ‘A few weeks ago I had my genetic sequencing test and my DNA test and they told me that I have Indian DNA. Everybody knows when I hear Indian music, I start dancing.’

The Indonesian President mentioned that both countries have long civilizational links, adding that an important part of his country’s language comes from Sanskrit.

‘Many names of Indonesia are actually Sanskrit names and in our daily life, the influence of ancient Indian civilization is very strong. I think it's also part of our genetics,’ he was quoted as saying.

Lauding PM Modi’s leadership and commitment to alleviate poverty, he said learnt a lot from him in a few days.

Saying that he is neither a professional politician nor a good diplomat, Subianto explained he came to India for a few days but ‘learned a lot from Prime Minister Modi's leadership and commitments...His commitment to alleviating poverty, helping the marginalized, and helping the weakest part of your society, is an inspiration for us.’

Subianto, accompanied by a high-level delegation including several ministers and senior officials of Indonesia, was the Chief Guest at the 76th Republic Day celebrations.

The two countries signed and renewed five Memorandums of Understanding on health, traditional medicine, and maritime security.