Washington: President Barack Obama on Friday night congratulated Narendra Modi for his electoral victory during a telephone call and invited him to visit the US to further strengthen bilateral ties. “The President invited Mr Modi to visit Washington at a mutually agreeable time to further strengthen our bilateral relationship,” the White House said following the maiden telephonic conversation between the two leaders.
The phone call was stated to be brief. Mr Modi, during his US visit would be eligible for an A-1 visa, State Depart-ment spokesperson Jen Psaki said. “The Prime Minister of India will be welcomed to the United States. As Head of Government, Mr Modi would be eligible for an A-1 visa,” she said.
In 2005, the US had revoked a visa that Mr Modi had for traveling to the US on the ground of alleged human rights violations after the 2002 Gujarat riots.
