(Washington DC) – Long denied a US visa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may well get the rare honor of addressing a joint session of US Congress when he visits US in September. A suggestion to invite Modi to address a joint session of the House and Senate during his trip has gone to House Speaker John Boehner from Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.
“As you know, India is a critical partner of the United States. In every aspect – whether it be in political, economic or security relations – the United States has no more important partner in South Asia,” said the letter. “It is not an overstatement to say that the US-India relationship will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century,” added the letter, which was also signed by North Carolina Republican Representative George Holding.
“With more than 500 million people voting in the recent Indian election, it was both the world’s largest democratic event and an historic moment for India,” they wrote. “The US must now work closely with Prime Minister Modi to strengthen the important relationship between the two countries.”
The Speaker’s office has not yet announced a response to the letter, but it’s considered highly likely that Modi may be invited to address a joint session given how US leaders from President Barack Obama down have reached out to the Indian leader since his resounding victory.
