Gujarat CM Narendra Modi gets invite from US lawmakers

Gandhinagar, Mar 28: US lawmakers who met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday have extended an invitation to him to visit their country later this year. Modi has accepted the invite and is likely to go to the United States sometime in June, reports say.

The delegation led by Aaron Schock, a Republican who was elected by voters in Illinois to the House of Representatives, praised the BJP government in Gujarat for achieving a high growth rate.

Schock's party colleagues Cathy M Rodgers and Cynthia Lummis, representing Washington and Wyoming respectively in the US Congress, lauded Modi for bringing about a positive change in people's lives.

Rodgers said that she looked forward to working together with the Gujarat government. Lummis noted that increasingly outsiders are coming to the state after being impressed by the work culture of Gujaratis.

Schock said that more Americans are now keen to invest in the state mainly because of the BJP government's initiatives in this regard.

Modi pointed out that "people's participation" and "hard work" are salient features of the 'development model' he has constantly propogated. He stressed that democratic processes must be further strengthened in India.

"Our democratic ideals flow from ideals of humanity, and in today's world the challenges before us compel us to work together even more seriously to strengthen democratic principles. Gujarat, being the land of Mahatma Gandhi believes in these principles and has been at the forefront of nurturing such ideals and leading its people on the path of growth," the chief minister said.

Modi later tweeted: "Am thankful to the members of USA Congress and business persons for their kind words on Gujarat's development."

US-India Business Council (USIBC) president Ron Somers is part of the delegation. The lawmakers are slated to meet several politicians and government officials during their India trip. The delegation is expected to visit Bangalore and New Delhi in the coming days.

OneIndia News