NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday thanked US President Donald Trump for the Diwali greetings and expressed hope that the two countries will stand united against all forms of terrorism.
While speaking to reporters during his Diwali Party at the White House, Trump said he spoke to Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday and the two sides are “working on some great deals between our countries”.
“I just spoke to your Prime Minister today. We had a great conversation. We talked about trade. We talked about a lot of things, but mostly the world of trade. He’s very interested in that,” he said.
PM Modi also took to X and said, “Thank you, President Trump, for your phone call and warm Diwali greetings. On this festival of lights, may our two great democracies continue to illuminate the world with hope and stand united against terrorism in all its forms.”
Trump hosted a special Diwali event at the White House, where he termed Prime Minister Modi “a great person” and said he loves “the people of India”.
The event was attended by the Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, the new US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, FBI Director Kash Patel and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Leading business leaders from the Indian diaspora were also part of the celebrations.
Trump lit the diya in the Oval Office, calling it “a symbol of faith in the victory of light over darkness” and extended his “warmest wishes to the people of India”.
He previously asserted that he had resolved the dispute between India and Pakistan in May. India refuted this claim, stating that the ceasefire agreement was reached only after the Pakistani Army requested the Indian side to halt the offensive.
However, Trump reiterated this during the Diwali celebration.
“We did talk a little while ago about let’s have no wars with Pakistan. The fact that trade was involved, I was able to talk about that. And we have no war with Pakistan and India. That was a very, very good thing,” he said.
The US president also repeated his claim that India will stop procuring Russian crude oil.
“I spoke to Prime Minister Modi…. We just have a very good relationship, and he’s not gonna buy much oil from Russia. He wants to see that war end as much as I do,” Trump said.
“He wants to see the war end with Russia-Ukraine and, as you know, they’re not going to be buying too much oil. So they’ve cut it way back and they’re continuing to cut it way back,” Trump said.
There was no immediate reaction from New Delhi on Trump’s remarks on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.
Last week, Trump claimed that PM Modi told him that India would stop buying Russian crude oil. Following Trump’s comments, India suggested that there was no such conversation between the two leaders.
On Tuesday night, Trump hosted a Diwali celebration that was attended by Indian ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra and several prominent Indian-origin business leaders.
The relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe strain after Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including an additional 25 per cent levies for its procurement of Russian crude oil.
India described the US action as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”.
Two weeks back, US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor met PM Modi in New Delhi. Following the meeting, Gor said the US “values” its relationship with India.
The Ambassador-designate also held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri before meeting PM Modi. (Agencies)
