Obama calls up to congratulate Modi on emphatic victory

Mangalore Today News Network

Gandhinagar, Gujarat, May 17, 2014:  US President Barack Obama Friday called up Indian prime minister-designate Narendra Modi and congratulated him on his emphatic election victory, officials said.

Obama said that the largest democracy in the world has given a decisive mandate and that he wished that under Modi’s leadership, India will contribute at the global stage.

Both leaders discussed the India-US Strategic Partnership and the prevailing global economic situation.

This was the first high-level contact between Modi and the US leadership ever since 2005 when the Gujarat chief minister had been denied a US visa due to his alleged complicity in the 2002 riots in the state.

Obama joined a number of world leaders including British Prime Minister David Cameron, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghan President Hamid Karzai,  Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,  Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who have congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party leader on the overwhelming win in the general elections.

Earlier, the White House congratulated new Indian leader Narendra Modi on his election victory on Friday and said he would be granted a visa for U.S. travel.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Modi would be granted a visa for U.S. travel.

"We congratulate Narendra Modi and the BJP on winning a majority of seats in this historical action," he said. "Once the government is formed, we look forward to working closely with the prime minister and the cabinet to advance our strong, bilateral relationship based on shared democratic values."