US Lawmakers Want PM Modi To Address Joint Session of Congress In June

A group of US lawmakers of the House of Representatives have called for extending an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint session of Congress during his upcoming state visit in June.

PM Modi is visiting the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden.

"On June 22, 2023, President Biden is hosting Prime Minister Modi for an Official State Visit and a State Dinner. As State Dinners have come to signify the Presidents utmost respect for visiting heads of state, granting a joint address to Congress is a commensurate honour for the leader of the worlds largest democracy and perhaps the most critical partner to countering China in the 21st century," Representatives Ro Khanna, a Democrat, and James Waltz, a Republican, wrote in a joint letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy.

"We firmly believe that inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver a joint address to Congress would further strengthen the deep and enduring friendship between the US and India," the letter said.

There are no indications whether the Speaker has agreed. If the Speaker does accept the same then PM Modi will be the first Prime Minister to address a joint session of the US Congress twice. The first was in June 2016 during which he had sought to project a new energy for the bilateral relationship with the two sides.

PM Modi has been invited by President Biden for a state visit in June.

"The foundation of our partnership lies in our shared commitment to democracy and the upholding of a rules-based international system," the letter read.

With mutual interests in promoting global security, stability and economic prosperity through trade, investment, and connectivity, the US and India have forged a deep bond. The recent in-person bilateral meetings between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi have reaffirmed our dedication to a resilient international order that safeguards sovereignty, upholds democratic values, and promotes peace and prosperity for all," they also said in the letter.