Edison Mayor Part of Welcoming Delegation For India’s Narendra Modi

EDISON, NJ — Edison Mayor Sam Joshi was in John F. Kennedy Airport, NY on Tuesday, to greet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Joshi was invited by the Government of India to be part of the welcoming delegation, the mayor’s office said.

Indian-origin Joshi is also slated to attend the Welcome Reception at the White House on Thursday, on an invitation from the Biden administration.

“It’s an honor to be invited by President Biden and the Government of India to take part in this historic occasion, and to represent Edison on the international stage,” Joshi said in a statement.

Several leading Indian-American elected officials from across the country will be attending the reception as well.

Sen. Cory Booker and Congressman Frank Pallone have also invited Joshi to attend Modi’s address at the joint congressional session on Thursday.

This is Modi’s first official State visit to the United States since becoming India’s Prime Minister almost a decade ago. Modi was once denied a visa to visit the U.S. over his role in the deadly religious riots that left over 1,000 people dead.

Dozens of lawmakers have also signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to address human rights concerns with Modi during his visit.

“As longtime supporters of a strong U.S.-India relationship, we also believe that friends can and should discuss their differences in an honest and forthright way. That is why we respectfully request that — in addition to the many areas of shared interests between India and the U.S. — you also raise directly with Prime Minister Modi areas of concern,” the lawmakers said in the letter.

They cited the State Department’s 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in India documenting the tightening of political rights and expression; and a 2022 report on International Religious Freedom in India that “details the worrisome increase of religious intolerance toward minorities and religiously motived violence by both private and state actors.”

The letter was led by Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jaypal (WA-07) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MA). Only one lawmaker from New Jersey, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), has signed the letter.

The U.S.-India relations are important to trade as it spans defense, sustainable development, global health, climate, technology and other aspects.

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