Turned Down India’s Invitation to R-Day Celebrations

In what can be termed as a huge embarrassment for Narendra Modi Government, Reports are emerging that US president Donald Trump has reportedly declined India’s invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. The foreign ministry has not given a statement yet. The American embassy in Delhi also did not comment.

[m9ad]

Sources say that Trump would not fly to India in January as the State of the Union address is scheduled in the winter month. But then, the former US president Barack Obama came to India twice and also attended the Republic Day celebrations in 2015 on his second visit, despite the State of the Union address falling in January every year.

Trump turning down the invitation could be seen as a low point in India-US ties, despite the good rapport PM Modi and he appear to have in public. This will be an embarrassment for the Modi Government because usually such formal invites to leaders for Republic Day are sent after the leader has already confirmed his or her attendance.