US Senator John McCain wants Narendra Modi to address US Congress

Even as US Senator John McCain's two-day trip to Delhi being overshadowed by India's protest against the NSA snooping on BJP, the former American Presidential nominee sought to expand Indo-US defence and strategic partnership ahead of the bilateral strategic dialogue end July and PM's Washington trip.

McCain, a votary of strong India-US ties, also pushed for an address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Joint Session of the US Congress during his September trip.

McCain is a member of US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and an influential member of the US Congress. Last week, McCain had urged Congressional leadership to invite Modi to address the joint session of the US Congress. Three more top US lawmakers — Brad Sherman, Ted Poe and Eni Faleomavaega — have asked the Congressional leadership to invite Modi to address a joint session of the US Congress when he visits Washington at the invitation of President Barack Obama.

Two top American lawmakers, including Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, last month urged the Speaker of the US House of Representatives John Boehner to invite Modi to address the session. The visiting US leader met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.