New Delhi: Washington In an honor accorded only to Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and two Israeli prime ministers, the leadership of the US Congress has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives for the second time. During his state visit to Washington DC on 22 June.
On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote to the PM, asking on behalf of bipartisan leadership to invite him to address the US He was respected. Congress.
“Based on our shared values and commitment to global peace and prosperity, the partnership between our two countries continues to grow. During your address, you will have the opportunity to share your vision for India’s future and talk about the global challenges facing both our countries,” the leaders told Modi.
Suggesting that Modi’s “landmark address” to the US Congress in 2016 had left a “lasting impact” and “greatly deepened the friendship” between the two countries, Congress leaders reminded Modi that he had Talked about how the relationship was prioritized for an important future, the compulsions of the past were behind them and the foundation for the future was firmly laid. “We look forward to paving the way for greater collaboration between our countries in the future,” Schumer, McCarthy, McConnell and Jeffries wrote.
President Joe Biden is expected to receive Modi at the White House for a formal welcome and bilateral talks and an address on the afternoon of June 22 before a state dinner. On May 26, HT quoted House India Caucus co-chairman Ro Khanna as saying that an invite was certain.
The invitation, at a time when the entire US Congressional leadership is preoccupied with suspending debt ceiling limits and averting default, speaks to the importance given by the legislative branch to ties with India. It also speaks to India’s continued engagement with both sides on Capitol Hill. Schumer and Jefferies are Democrats, McCarthy and McConnell are Republicans.
While Schumer led the most high-powered congressional delegation ever to visit India earlier this year, McCarthy has visited the US three times this year, twice in person and once with the Indian ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Virtually met. The speaker and the ambassador also met on Friday.
The India Caucus is active in both the Houses. In March, two senators introduced a bipartisan resolution affirming that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and condemning China’s provocative actions in the region. Last year, as part of a broader omnibus legislation, the House voted in favor of exempting India from sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through the Sanctions Act for New Delhi’s acquisition of S-400 systems from Russia. Voted heavily.
The invitation to Modi for the second time has put him in a unique club of politicians. Churchill made a historic speech to the US Congress during World War II; Mandela’s struggle against apartheid and status made him particularly special to the African-American population of America; and Yitzhak Rabin and Benjamin Netanyahu represented Israel, with which the US has a particularly special relationship.
