Thank you, but...: What PM said on turning down Trump's US visit invite

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in Odisha, said that he turned down the offer made by United States President Donald Trump to visit Washington, saying that he "needed to return to the land of sacred Mahaprabhu."Addressing the public in Bhubaneshwar, PM Modi said that he received a call from Trump while he was attending the G7 Summit in Canada. Trump invited him for a dinner in Washington, which the Prime Minister kindly declined.advertisement"Just two days ago, I was in Canada for the G7 summit and the US President Trump called me. He said, since you have come to Canada, go via Washington, we will have dinner together and talk. He extended the invitation with great insistence. I told the US President, thank you for the invitation. It is very important for me to go to the land of Mahaprabhu and hence I politely declined his invitation and your love and devotion to Mahaprabhu brought me to this land," Modi told the crowd.
PM Modi is visiting Odisha to participate in the first anniversary function of the BJP's maiden government in the state.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hindustan Times

33 minutes ago

• Hindustan Times

Meta unveils Oakley smart glasses: Price, availability, features and all you need to know

The Netherlands has initiated operation Orange Shield to secure the upcoming NATO summit, deploying over 10,000 military and police personnel, along with combat helicopters and naval frigates. Key leaders, including U.S. President Trump and French President Macron, will attend the event in The Hague, while protests are anticipated outside. Cybersecurity threats are also under close surveillance.

United News of India

34 minutes ago

• United News of India

Wave of development has reduced Naxal menace to less than 20 districts: PM

Bhubaneswar, June 20 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that Naxalism will soon be completely eradicated from the country, crediting his government's developmental push in tribal areas for the decline in extremist violence. Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the BJP government's first anniversary in Odisha, the Prime Minister said that before 2014, more than 125 tribal-majority districts across India were impacted by Naxalite violence. He pointed out that these tribal regions were long unfairly labeled as part of the 'Red Corridor' and had been neglected by previous governments, which declared them backward and left them behind. 'In the last few years, our government has worked to bring tribal communities out of a climate of violence and onto a path of development,' Modi said. 'We have taken strict action against those who spread violence, and simultaneously, launched a new wave of development in these areas.' As a result, he stated, the influence of Naxalism has now been reduced to fewer than 20 districts across the country. Expressing confidence, Modi said that with the current pace of development and enforcement, tribal areas will soon be entirely free from the shadow of violence. 'This is Modi's guarantee,' he declared. The Prime Minister emphasised that empowering tribal communities, fulfilling their aspirations, and easing their hardships remains a top priority for his government. He highlighted that for the first time, two major national schemes have been launched specifically for tribal development, with a combined outlay exceeding Rs1 lakh crore. Modi elaborated on the first initiative — Dharati Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, under which development work is on in more than 60,000 tribal villages across India. "In Odisha too," he noted, "we are building houses for tribal families, constructing roads, and providing electricity and clean drinking water." Discussing the second major scheme, PM Janman Yojana, the Prime Minister said the inspiration for the initiative came from Odisha itself, and acknowledged the guidance of the country's first tribal woman President, Droupadi Murmu, in shaping the program. He said the scheme focuses on supporting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), and that development work worth hundreds of crores is currently being carried out in remote tribal hamlets under this scheme. UNI DP SSP

First Post

34 minutes ago

• First Post

US imposes new sanctions on Iran, Houthis over weapons and Illicit oil trade

The Trump administration said on Friday it had issued fresh Iran-related sanctions targeting eight entities, one vessel and one person for their alleged role in providing sensitive machinery for Tehran's defense industry read more The Trump administration said on Friday it had issued fresh Iran-related sanctions targeting eight entities, one vessel and one person for their alleged role in providing sensitive machinery for Tehran's defence industry. 'The United States remains resolved to disrupt any effort by Iran to procure the sensitive, dual-use technology, components, and machinery that underpin the regime's ballistic missile, unmanned aerial vehicle, and asymmetric weapons programmes,' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. 'Treasury will continue to degrade Iran's ability to produce and proliferate these deadly weapons, which threaten regional stability and global security,' he added in a statement announcing the action. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Two of the entities include shipping companies based in Hong Kong: Unico Shipping Co Ltd and Athena Shipping Co Ltd, the statement said. The Treasury Department on Friday also issued counterterrorism-related sanctions targeting Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis over alleged illicit oil trading and shipping, it said in a separate statement. Those sanctions target four individuals, 12 entities, and two vessels over imported oil and other illicit goods to support the Houthis, the department said.