House of Representative Speaker Paul Ryan invites PM Modi to address joint meeting of US Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to speak to a joint session of Congress when he visits Washington in June, as per reports.

Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress on June 8 during his visit here.

PM Modi has been officially invited by US House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Speaker Ryan made the announcement at his weekly press conference. 

His office released the following statement:

“The friendship between the United States and India is a pillar of stability in an important region of the world,” 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.” 

Ryan also tweeted the following:

Honored to invite @narendramodi to address Congress at the @uscapitol during his visit to Washington this summer. https://t.co/BQGWz1VQj3 — Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) April 28, 2016

Today, I invited Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi to address a joint meeting of Congress. https://t.co/Wj7clGpq18 — Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) April 28, 2016

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

He was US President Barack Obama for a bilateral visit when he was here for the nuclear summit.

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

However, in another development, PTI reported that the White House was in talks with Indian officials on PM Modi's proposed visit to the US, as per a presidential spokesman after Ryan announced that Indian Premier had been invited to address the Congress.

But,White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest did not indicate if a final decision has been taken in this regard or if the formal invitation to Modi by President Barack Obama had been sent.

Obama, he said, "enjoys his relationship" with PM Modi.

"The President appreciates the important role played by PM Modi in the success of Paris Summit on Climate Change last November," he said. 

(With Agency inputs)