Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed in Bhubaneswar that he declined a dinner invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump, which Trump extended during a phone call at the G7 summit in Canada. Modi explained his decision by emphasizing his strong cultural and spiritual commitment: he chose instead to visit Odisha—the “land of Lord Jagannath” or “Maha Prabhu’s dharti”—to participate in the state’s BJP government anniversary celebrations and inaugurate major development projects worth around ₹18,600 crore . Modi humbly expressed, “thank you for the invitation … but visiting the land of Mahaprabhu was essential for me,” underlining his prioritization of domestic religious and developmental engagements over international diplomatic meetings .

This act underscores both Modi’s focus on odisha’s cultural significance and his strategic emphasis on local growth and infrastructure — launching new rail links and public initiatives — even when presented with high-profile international opportunities .

sources