Pics: Modi in US; from no visa to defining partnerships of 21st century

Washington, June 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was once denied visa in 2005 under a 1998 US law that bars entry to foreigners who have committed "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" was invited to address a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 8 during his fourth visit to the country in a short span of two years.

PM Modi is the only person ever denied a visa to the US under this provision, this was confirmed by US officials.

Invitations to address the Senate and House are considered a great honour. There have been only two in the past year: Pope Francis, on Sept 24, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on April 29, 2015.

PM Modi will be the fifth prime minister of India to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since 2005.

Earlier, Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh (July 19, 2005), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (September 14, 2000), P V Narasimha Rao (May 18, 1994) and Rajiv Gandhi (July 13, 1985) addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress.

Here are some pics of his visit to US in 2016

PM Modi with husband of late astronaut Kalpana Chawla

Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses with husband of late astronaut Kalpana Chawla and family members during his visit to Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial in Washington D.C. on Monday.

PM admires stolen Indian artifacts to be returned to India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the US Attorney General Loretta Lynch admires stolen Indian artifacts to be returned to India at Blair House in Washington on Monday

PM lays wreath at Tomb of unknown soldier in Washington

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC on Monday.

PM Modi during ceremony for return of idols

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ceremony for return of idols in Washington DC on Monday. These priceless artifacts were stolen from museums across India.

PM Modi with US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington on Monday.

PM Modi waves on his arrival at Joint Base Andrews

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves on his arrival at Joint Base Andrews (JBA) in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.

Modi waves to the Indian community in Washington

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the Indian community people on his arrival at Joint Base Andrews (JBA), in Washington D.C

PM Modi meets Indian community people on his arrival

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Indian community people on his arrival at Joint Base Andrews (JBA), in Washington D.C