Narendra Modi will become the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first one since 2005, during his visit to the US Capital in June 2016. However, the PM’s visit was not announced by India yet. Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar is in Washington for the finalization of the agenda of his visit. According to the reports, the visit is at the behest of U.S. President Barack Obama.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan invited Mr Modi to address the meeting. Mr Ryan made an announcement at the weekly press conference saying that the PM’s address is likely to be on 8 June 2016. During his speakership, this would be his first joint meeting of Congress.

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

In a bipartisan initiative, the Ranking Democratic member Eliot Engel and Representatives George Holding, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, and Dr. Amerish 'Ami' Bera wrote to the speaker on 20 April 2016, requesting him for the invitation of Mr. Modi to address Congress.

- Sumana