PM Modi Says He Declined Trump’s Dinner Invite to Visit Odisha, Slams Congress at Bhubaneswar Rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday revealed that he had respectfully declined an invitation from former US President Donald Trump for a dinner meeting in Washington, choosing instead to travel to Odisha.

Addressing a public gathering in Bhubaneswar to mark the first anniversary of Odisha’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, Modi recounted the recent exchange during his visit to Canada for the G7 Summit.

“Just two days ago, I was in Canada for the G7 Summit. While I was there, President Trump called and said, ‘Since you’re in Canada, come via Washington. Let’s have dinner and talk.’ He extended the invitation with great insistence,” the Prime Minister said.

However, Modi said he turned down the invitation out of his commitment to the people of Odisha and his reverence for Lord Jagannath.

“I told the US President, thank you for the invitation, but it is very important for me to go to the land of Mahaprabhu (Jagannath). Your love and devotion to Mahaprabhu brought me here,” he told the crowd.

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PM Modi Targets Congress, Accuses It of Neglecting Tribal Communities

During his address, the Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of deliberately keeping tribal regions underdeveloped for political gain and branding them as part of the “red corridor”.

“The party which ruled India for decades used tribal communities only for vote bank politics. They never worked to bring development to these regions,” he said.

Modi alleged that over 125 tribal-dominated districts had long suffered under Maoist influence due to the inaction and neglect of previous governments.

“These areas were labelled as ‘red corridor’ and intentionally kept backward. No real effort was made to bring governance or development there,” he claimed.

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‘First Year of BJP Rule in Odisha Dedicated to Public Trust and Good Governance’

Highlighting the achievements of the BJP-led Odisha government, PM Modi said the completion of its first year in office was a celebration of “good governance and public trust”.

“Today is a special day. This is not just the anniversary of a government — it is the anniversary of good governance,” Modi said.

He added that the reopening of the four gates of the Jagannath Temple and the sacred ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (temple treasury) was a major step in fulfilling the long-standing wishes of devotees.

The Prime Minister also said the state had suffered from corruption and underdevelopment under previous regimes but was now moving forward under BJP leadership.

“The BJP government in Odisha has been focused on serving people, addressing past challenges, and ensuring inclusive development,” he concluded.