US State Dinner to Indian PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PM Modi) has gone on his first state visit to America. His visit will be of 3 days, from June 21 to 24, and during this he will participate in 10 programs in 72 hours. On Yoga Day on June 21, Modi will also perform yoga in New York. He is the second Indian Prime Minister and the third big leader so far, who has been invited by the US for this visit. During this visit, US President Joe Biden will host a state dinner at the White House.
Narendra Modi Prior to this, former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi (late) was also invited for dinner at the White House. And, after the dinner given in his honor there, Indira Gandhi was called on the dance floor by the American President. Then Lyndon Johnson was the President of America. Johnson wanted Indira to dance with him as well. However, Indira rejected his request. That thing is discussed till today.
..When Indira took this decision in honor of the countrymen
According to Inder Malhotra, who wrote Indira Gandhi’s biography, when Indira Gandhi went to America for the first time after becoming Prime Minister in March 1966, a dinner was organized in her honor at the White House. Inder Malhotra, in ‘Indira Gandhi A Personal and Political Biography’, wrote that “Indira Gandhi refused US President Johnson’s request to dance, saying that her countrymen would not like their prime minister dancing in the ballroom .”
Insult of the American President again after four years
Indira Gandhi went to America again after 4 years of 1966 visit, where she participated in the 25th Conference of the United Nations. At the same time, the Indian delegation accompanying him came to know that US President Richard Nixon has invited all the heads of state for dinner at the White House. According to Natwar Singh’s ‘Heart to Heart’, Indira distanced herself from that dinner. And, even after repeated requests from Ambassador Laxmikant Jha, she stuck to her decision to stay away from that banquet.
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