Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed that he had declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump to visit Washington after his official visit to Canada, citing prior commitments in India. Modi was invited by Trump during the G7 Summit, but he chose to prioritise his domestic obligations.
Modi stated that visiting Odisha, the land of Lord Jagannath, was very important for him, especially as he addressed a mega public meeting marking the first anniversary of the BJP government in the state. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that both leaders continue to communicate through diplomatic channels and plan to meet in the near future.
“A couple of days ago, I was in Canada attending the G7 Summit when I received a call from President Trump, who kindly invited me to visit Washington. While I expressed my gratitude for his thoughtful invitation, I explained that I needed to return to the sacred land of Mahaprabhu. With due respect, I graciously declined his offer,” Modi said.
He said Mahaprabhu Jagannath is our God as well as our inspiration.
He said that Odisha is not just a state. It’s a radiant beacon of India’s rich heritage. For thousands of years, it has been a cornerstone of Indian culture, contributing to its growth and vibrancy. Today, as the ideals of development and heritage form the foundation of India’s progress, Odisha’s significance and role in this journey have grown even greater, the PM added.
The Prime Minister launched multiple development projects covering critical sectors such as drinking water, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, sections of national highways, and a new railway line. He flagged off new train services extending rail connectivity to Boudh district for the first time and launched 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport initiative to promote eco-friendly urban mobility.
PM Modi also unveiled the Odisha Vision Document, a roadmap for the state’s development goals anchored around the centenary of Odisha’s formation as a linguistic state in 2036 and India’s 100 years of independence in 2047. The vision document aims to transform Odisha into a $500 billion economy by 2036 and a $1.5 trillion economy by 2047. Additionally, he launched the ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana’ initiative to honour eminent Odias by developing their birthplaces into cultural hubs.
The Prime Minister felicitated women achievers from across the state, celebrating the success of over 16.5 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ as symbols of prosperity and self-reliance in Odisha. These initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to the state’s development and growth
