PM Modi speaks to Donald Trump days after US president’s inauguration

“We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security,” says Modi

trump-modi-ap (File) Narendra Modi and Donald Trump | AP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Donald Trump over phone on Monday, days after the latter’s mega inauguration event last week. Modi congratulated Trump on his second term at the White House.

"Delighted to speak with my dear friend President Donald Trump. Congratulated him on his historic second term. We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security," the prime minister posted on X.

Trump took oath as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, three months after he pulled off a stunning victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Soon after his swearing-in, Trump had signed a slurry of executive orders, including the one which is aimed at overhauling the US immigration. The president directed American agencies to prepare to "immediately repel, repatriate, and remove" undocumented immigrants as part of his policy on the matter. 

Trump’s order is likely to affect a large number of Indians who have illegally entered the US in recent years by crossing the Canadian and Mexican borders.

New Delhi, meanwhile, maintained that it is opposed to illegal immigration and would be ready to take back Indians staying illegally in the US provided their nationality is verified.

"We will take them back provided documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality, that they are indeed Indians," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

According to reports, the US Department of Homeland Security has identified around 18,000 illegal immigrants from India.

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