A day after he wrote to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy urging him to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deal with a joint assembly of the United States (US) Congress, Congressman Ro Khanna has mentioned that he’s “very confident” that the Speaker will prolong an invitation to PM Modi.

As co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional caucus on India and Indian-Americans, Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Michael Waltz, a Republican from Florida, met McCarthy on Wednesday to debate the invitation.

After the assembly, Khanna advised HT, “We had a very constructive discussion with the Speaker and, based on the discussion, I am very confident that he will extend an invite to the PM to address a joint session of the Congress.” Khanna added that McCarthy noticed India as a “critical ally” and the connection with India as among the many consequential for the US within the twenty first century.

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At the invitation of President Joe Biden, Modi is travelling to Washington DC on June 22 for a state go to. Biden will host him for bilateral talks in addition to a state dinner, making Modi solely the third Indian chief after President S Radhakrishnan in 1963 and PM Manmohan Singh in 2009 to obtain the honour.

On Tuesday, Khanna and Waltz, as co-chairs of the bipartisan India caucus, wrote a letter to the Speaker urging him to ask Modi. “As State Dinners have come to signify the President’s utmost respect for visiting heads of state, granting a joint address to Congress is a commensurate honor for the leader of the world’s largest democracy and perhaps the most critical partner to countering China in the 21st century.”

Modi had addressed the US Congress in 2016, the place he famously spoke about how the 2 nations have overcome the “hesitations of history”. If McCarthy invitations Modi, and if Modi accepts the invite, it should make the PM amongst a handful of leaders who would have spoken to US Congress twice. Others who’ve acquired the honour have included Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Yitzhak Rabin and Benjamin Netanyahu.

In their letter to McCarthy, Khanna and Waltz identified that this was the seventy fifth anniversary of Indian independence and India-US relations and the muse of the partnership rested on a “shared commitment to democracy and the upholding of a rules-based international system”.

“With mutual interests in promoting global security, stability, and economic prosperity through trade, investment, and connectivity, the United States and India have forged a deep bond,” the letter acknowledged. It additionally referred to latest conferences between Modi and Biden as having reaffirmed their “dedication” to a resilient worldwide order that “safeguards sovereignty, upholds democratic values, and promotes peace and prosperity for all”.

Khanna and Waltz mentioned that Quad had offered a platform to US and India, together with Japan and Australia, to debate “shared regional and global security interests”. “The United States recognizes and supports India’s emergence as a leading global power and a vital partner in safeguarding the Indo-Pacific region as a place of peace, stability, and growing prosperity.”

The caucus co-chairs additionally talked about the sturdy individuals to individuals ties between the 2 nations. “The four million-strong Indian American diaspora and vibrant educational exchanges between our countries exemplify the deep connection and potential for collaboration. Such ties are a tremendous source of strength and serve as a solid foundation for our strategic partnership.”

Based on these causes, Khanna and Waltz mentioned they believed a joint deal with by the PM to the Congress would supply an “invaluable opportunity” for members on each side of the aisle to have interaction in constructive dialogue. “We firmly believe that inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver a joint address to Congress would further strengthen the deep and enduring friendship between the United States and India.”

Under Khanna and Waltz, the India caucus has witnessed a brand new vitality and dynamism. At the top of April, the caucus hosted a one-day summit on the Hill to debate varied facets of the bilateral relationship. They have additionally stepped up their engagement with Indian and diaspora interlocutors and the caucus leaders hope to go to India sooner or later this yr.