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India.com
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Declined Trump invite to US, chose sacred land of Lord Jagannath instead: PM Modi in Odisha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the gathering during a public meeting, in Bhubaneswar on Friday. (ANI Photo) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump to visit Washington, and instead chose to come to Odisha, the sacred land of Lord Jagannath. The Prime Minister was addressing a rally marking the first anniversary of Odisha's maiden BJP government. He also launched a scathing attack on the Congress and accused the opposition party of using tribals for political gains, keeping them backward by branding their habitation as 'red corridor'. Modi, who recently returned to Delhi after concluding his three-nation tour, recalled how he preferred Odisha visit than a call from Washington. 'I was in Canada for the G7 Summit when US President Trump called me up and invited me to Washington for a discussion and lunch. I thanked him for the invitation, saying I have to visit Odisha, the land of Lord Jagannath. I humbly rejected his invitation,' he said. The Prime Minister had on Tuesday declined Trump's US visit invitation while returning from Canada, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said on the Modi-Trump phone call. Modi said he could not accept the invitation due to a pre-existing schedule, and invited Trump to visit India for the Quad Summit, likely later this year. The two leaders were scheduled to meet in Canada on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. However, the US President left the meeting midway amidst rising hostilities between Israel and Iran. On the occasion of the first anniversary of the BJP government headed by a tribal chief minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, launched development projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore. He said the saffron party fulfilled the long-awaited demands of the people as the four gates of Puri Jagannath temple and its 'Ratna Bhandar' (treasury) have been reopened. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Modi accused the opposition party of deliberately keeping tribal communities underdeveloped and branding their regions as the 'red corridor' for political gains. 'The party which ruled India for decades had neglected the tribal community and used them merely for political benefits,' he said in an apparent reference to the Congress. He alleged that tribal-dominated regions were 'intentionally left backward' during the previous regimes. 'Over 125 tribal-dominated districts in the country were affected by Maoists for years. These areas were given a bad name like 'red corridor'. Most of these districts were declared backward, and the then governments did not take the responsibility to develop them,' Modi said. On the other hand, Modi said that his government since some years has freed the tribal society from violence and showed them the path to development. 'The BJP government took stern action against those spreading violence and at the same time ensured uninterrupted development in tribal areas,' he said, adding that it has given dividends for which the Naxal violence is grossly contained. 'The Naxal violence is now confined to 20 districts in the country. The pace at which the actions are being taken against the Naxalites, the tribal community will soon get rid of violence. Naxalism will be eradicated from the country and this is Modi's guarantee,' the Prime Minister said, adding that the BJP government's priority is to fulfil the dreams of tribals, ease their lives and giving them new opportunities in life. Stating that the Centre is spending more than Rs 1 lakh crore for tribal development, the Prime Minister said that the Union government has launched two major schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, named after the tribal icon Birsa Munda. He said developmental works are being carried out in more than 60,000 tribal villages, including those in Odisha. The tribal villages are being provided with roads, electricity, drinking water and other facilities. As many as 40 residential schools for tribal students are under construction. Prime Minister Modi noted that President Droupadi Murmu's guidance was the inspiration for launching of the PM-JANMAN scheme. Referring to the fishing community, the Prime Minister announced that the central government is setting up a special fund of Rs 25,000 crore, which will greatly benefit those living along Odisha's coastline and generate opportunities for the youth. He said that for the first time, a major nationwide scheme — PM Matsya Sampada Yojana — has been formulated for the welfare of fishermen. The fishermen are now receiving the benefit of the Kisan Credit Card facility as well, he said. Modi, who completed first year of his third term in office on June 9, said that obstructing developmental projects and indulging in corruption, were the 'model' of the previous Congress governments. However, the entire country has been witnessing the development model of the BJP, he said. The PM said that Odisha too had been grappling with numerous challenges for decades when the poor and farmers were not getting their due rights as corruption and red-tapism were dominant, and infrastructure across the state was in a dire condition. 'Such challenges had become the unfortunate reality of Odisha. Over the past year, the BJP government has worked with full resolve to address these issues and this has been possible due to double-engine government (BJP government in both state and Centre). The double-engine government has given double benefit to Odisha,' Modi said.
NDTV
10 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
PM Modi On Why He Rejected Trump's Invite To Visit US
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he declined US President Donald Trump's invitation to visit Washington DC as he had to return to the "holy land of Lord Jagannath". The Prime Minister mentioned this at a public address in Odisha's Bhubaneswar. PM Modi had been to Canada to attend the G7 Summit recently. He met with several heads of state including French President Emmanuel Macron. It was during the G7 Summit that Mr Trump asked on a phone call to PM Modi whether he would visit Washington DC on an official invitation. "I was in Canada for the G7 Summit when US President [Donald] Trump called and invited me to Washington for a discussion and lunch. I thanked him for the invitation, saying I have to visit Odisha, the land of Lord Jagannath. I humbly rejected his invitation," PM Modi said at the public event. It was the first time PM Modi participated in the first anniversary celebrations of the BJP government in Odisha. He also launched development projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in a statement said PM Modi invited Mr Trump to visit India for the Quad Summit, likely to be held later this year. The two leaders were scheduled to meet in Canada on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. However, Mr Trump left the Summit midway amid rising hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 21st June 2025
Trump's strange moves President Donald Trump is emerging as another Goebbels with his repeatedly trumpeting narratives about the recent ceasefire accord arrived between India and Pakistan, even after a flat denial by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. What is more, he has the audacity to say that Modi is a fantastic man, whatever that to mean. If he thinks that this way, India can be bullied, nothing can be farther from truth. His explicit statement that he loves Pakistan once again reveals his lack of sincerity and diversion from the avowed goals of fighting terrorism tooth and nail. Seshagiri Row Karry, Hyderabad India should have been tough with Pak The opposition took strong exception to Mr Trump's 'ceasefire' announcement of war between India and Pakistan. They opposition were wanting the PM to make it clear whether Mr Trump had engineered the ceasefire using 'trade' card. All the while the PM never reacted to the opposition's call, but now in the sidelines of G7 outreach Mr Modi said the truce was reached at the request of Pak, and that India would never allow any nation to mediate. Not everything is obvious though. Why did India not demand Pak to surrender the intruding killer terrorists, in return for truce? P R Ravinder, Hyderabad Increasing working hours, regressive move The Karnataka government is now preparing to increase daily working hours from 10 to 12, following the path already taken by Andhra Pradesh. This decision is being labelled as 'industrial development,' but in reality, it is a direct attack on the lives of millions of workers. Working 12 hours a day like machines will not only increase physical exhaustion but also lead to mental stress, strained family life, and the destruction of social balance. This raises a crucial question: Is economic progress only possible at the cost of workers' blood and sweat? While developed countries are moving toward fewer working hours and a better lifestyle, such steps in India signal regression. If governments truly want development, they must introduce policies that treat humans not as machines but as citizens deserving a dignified life. Otherwise, this so-called 'development' will one day lay the groundwork for social discontent and labour rebellion. Prof RK Jain 'Arijeet', Barwani (MP) India's balancing act This refers to 'Modi snubs Trump, decline US invite' (June 19). How one sees his action as 'right' or 'wrong' depends on perspective. From a diplomatic protocol and sovereignty standpoint, it aligns with India's established position. From a public relations angle, it sends a clear message about India's self-reliance in regional matters. It also sends a message to other global players: India will engage, but on its own terms. At the same time, Modi's cordial 35 minutes telephonic talks on Operation Sindoor and invitation to Trump for the upcoming Quad Summit in India is being viewed as a balancing act. It keeps the door open for cooperation on broader Indo-Pacific strategy, climate, and trade, while drawing a red line around bilateral issues with Pakistan. This divergence could create short-term friction, but it's unlikely to derail the broader India-U.S. relationship. The two countries share deepening ties in defence, technology, and regional security. The upcoming Quad Summit may serve as a reset point. Dr O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad Modi needs to take everyone along India has two groups; one which believes that PM Modi can do no wrong and the other which feels everything he does is wrong. An objective assessment is rare. Therefore, the edit on 11 years of Modi role is something of a rarity in the media. Modi's biggest contribution has been in infrastructure. One only hopes the roads and bridges will last the time they were designed for. It also seemed that the foreign policy was being done right until we failed to find support for Operation Sindoor. One personal fault of Modi has been his inability to take everybody along. The criticism that the BJP is now run by two and a half men is valid. His inability to control the motor mouths of his party and take any meaningful action against them goes into one of his minuses. But his biggest failure has been on the black money front which was promised to be brought back during his first them. Social cohesion is on a downtrend and the PM will have to address these issues, if he wants to be considered as the greatest PM of India! Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Love Pak, stopped war with India: Trump persists with claim after PM factcheck
United States President Donald Trump once again reiterated his claim of stopping war between India and Pakistan after Prime Minister Narendra Modi fact-checked him."I stopped a war between Pakistan [and India]. I love Pakistan," he further said. Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night," he said while speaking with the PM Modi had told the US President that India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never do so in the He further reiterated his trade deal plans with India. "We are going to make a trade deal with Modi of India. But I stopped a war between Pakistan and India."Trump went on to praise Pakistan's army chief Asif Munir and PM Modi and said that they were extremely influential."This man [Munir] was extremely influential in stopping war from Pakistani side, Modi from the other side. They were going at it and they are both nuclear countries...I stopped a war between two major nuclear nations but I don't think I have a story written about it," he nearly 14 claims of the US brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, PM Modi gave a no-nonsense response to Donald Trump, countering the US's ceasefire mediation narrative. In a 35-minute-long phone conversation with Trump on Wednesday, Modi clarified that the US had no role in brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He also said there was no discussion on a US-India trade deal during call focused on the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and India's response. Modi explained India's shift in counter-terror policy and invited Trump to the upcoming Quad Summit in InMust Watch
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
PM Declines Trump's US Invite Over Scheduling Issues, Invites Him To Quad
Kananaskis (Canada): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke with US President Donald Trump and set the record straight that Operation Sindoor was 'paused' following a request from Pakistan and not due to mediation or offer of a trade deal by the US. In a 35-minute phone call with President Trump on Tuesday, PM Modi briefed the US President on Operation Sindoor, launched by India against terror sites in Pakistan and made it clear that countries that support terrorism must face the consequences. This was the first conversation between President Trump and PM Modi after the pause in Operation Sindoor last month. 'PM Modi clarified that no topics related to trade were discussed in connection with Operation Sindoor. He asserted that India has never accepted third-party mediation and will not accept such mediation in the future,' Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a statement on the PM Modi-President Trump phone call. He said President Trump invited PM Modi, who was here to attend the G-7 meeting, to visit the US on his return journey from Canada. However, PM Modi said he could not accept the invitation due to a pre-existing schedule. PM Modi invited President Trump to visit India for the Quad Summit, likely later this year. President Trump had left the meeting mid-way amid rising hostilities between Israel and Iran. The two leaders had spoken after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack when President Trump had expressed his condolences and supported India in the fight against terrorism. During the phone call on Tuesday, PM Modi said India responded strongly to Pakistan's attack on the intervening night of May 9-10, which led to heavy losses to Pakistan's military infrastructure and rendered their airbases inoperable. PM Modi told President Trump that India's strong response to Pakistan forced it to urge India to stop the military campaign. The Prime Minister told President Trump clearly that in this entire chain of events, there was no discussion of an India-US trade deal and there was no reference to US mediation between India and Pakistan, Mr Misri said. PM Modi made it clear that the decision to halt military action was taken in direct talks between India and Pakistan using the existing channels and at the insistence of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi firmly made it clear that India will not accept any mediation in its dealings with Pakistan and there is bipartisan/political unity on this issue. Mr Misri said President Trump understood the issue after hearing the Prime Minister and expressed support for India's fight against terrorism. 'Modi told Trump that henceforth India will not treat terrorism as a proxy war but as an act of war, and Operation Sindoor was still continuing,' Mr Misri said. Mr Misri said PM Modi and President Trump were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting, but it could not fructify as the US President left early. He said President Trump insisted on having a conversation with PM Modi, after which the call was set up. PM Modi told President Trump that he had expressed his resolve to take action against terrorism after the Pahalgam attack. The Prime Minister told President Trump that India had targeted terror sites inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan on the intervening night of May 6-7. He made it clear that India's action was 'measured, precise and non-escalatory'. PM Modi also told President Trump that he had declared that bullets from Pakistan would be responded with cannon balls (goli ka jawab gole se diya jayega). Misri said the Prime Minister told President Trump that he had received a phone call from US Vice President J D Vance on May 9 and cautioned about a 'big strike' by Pakistan. Modi told Vance clearly that if Pakistan did so, India would respond in an even bigger way. Mr Misri said President Trump and Prime Minister Modi during the call also discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. He said on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, both leaders agreed that direct talks between the two sides are essential for peace at the earliest and that efforts toward this should continue. On the Indo-Pacific region, President Trump and PM Modi shared their perspectives and expressed support for the significant role of the QUAD in the region. Prime Minister Modi invited President Trump to visit India for the next QUAD meeting, Mr Misri said, adding that the US President accepted the invitation, and said that he was eager to visit India.
