Modi invited to address joint session of U.S. Congress

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint meeting of Congress when he visits the U.S. capital in June. India has not announced the PM’s visit yet, but Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar is in Washington to finalise the agenda of the visit that is reportedly at the behest of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Making an announcement at his weekly press conference on Thursday, Mr. Ryan said Mr. Modi’s address could be likely on June 8. This will be the first joint meeting of Congress during his speakership.

“The friendship between the United States and India is a pillar of stability in an important region of the world,” Mr. Ryan said. “This address presents a special opportunity to hear from the elected leader of the world’s most populous democracy on how our two nations can work together to promote our shared values and to increase prosperity. We look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to the United States Capitol.”

Mr. Modi will be the fifth Prime Minister of India to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since 2005. In a bipartisan initiative, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, the Ranking Democratic member Eliot Engel and Representatives George Holding, and Dr. Amerish ‘Ami’ Bera had written to the speaker on April 20, requesting him to invite Mr. Modi to address Congress.