'Declined Trump's invite to US to coming to land of Lord Jagannath,' says PM Modi; flags off Boudh rail link ahead of Rath Yatra

Time of India

7 hours ago

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he declined a dinner invitation from US President Donald Trump during his visit to Canada for the G7 summit, in order to attend a public programme in Odisha and to visit the 'land of Mahaprabhu.
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'Just two days ago, I was in Canada for the G7 summit and the US President Trump called me,' PM Modi said. 'He said, since you have come to Canada, go via Washington, we will have dinner together and talk. He extended the invitation with great insistence. I told the US President, thank you for the invitation. It is very important for me to go to the land of Mahaprabhu and hence I politely declined his invitation. Your love and devotion to Mahaprabhu brought me to this land.
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The Prime Minister's remarks came during a public address in Bhubaneswar to mark the first anniversary of the BJP government in Odisha. Hailing the occasion, PM Modi said, 'This anniversary is not just of the government; it marks the establishment of good governance. This one year has been dedicated to public service and public trust.' He congratulated chief minister Mohan Majhi and his team.
During the address, PM Modi also praised the decision by the Odisha government to open all four doors of the Sri Jagannath Temple and give access to the Ratna Bhandar, the temple treasury.
'This is not a matter of political victory or defeat. It has been done to respect the faith of crores of devotees,' he said, adding that the issues around the temple had been resolved with divine blessings.
The Prime Minister drew comparisons with other BJP-ruled states, such as Assam and Tripura, which he said were once troubled by violence and underdevelopment but are now progressing steadily. 'Assam and Tripura show how the people's mandate for change can bring peace and growth,' he said.
PM Modi also flagged off new train services to Boudh district, giving the area its first-ever railway connectivity. The move, he said, was part of the Centre's broader push to boost infrastructure in previously neglected regions.
His visit comes just ahead of the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, a key religious event for devotees of Lord Jagannath. PM Modi linked the recent policy decisions in the state with the upcoming yatra and underlined the BJP's continued commitment to both governance and faith-based traditions.