John Kerry departure delayed, meets PM Modi

Even as news agency reports said on Wednesday evening that US secretary of state John Kerry had postponed his departure from New Delhi and would not be leaving on Wednesday, the visiting US dignitary met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who conveyed that he was looking forward to meeting US President Barack Obama at the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China in September.

Though news agency reports said no reason had been given for the postponement of his departure, US embassy “refused to confirm or deny” the report, saying there was no official word on this.

The MEA too refused to comment. But according to some reports, Mr Kerry is extending his visit by a day or two in order to join President Barack Obama at the forthcoming G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China.

He may use the time available on Thursday or Friday to visit three religious shrines which he could not visit on Wednesday on account of the heavy rains.

Mr Kerry reached New Delhi late on Monday evening and was supposed to return on Wednesday.

PM Modi, meanwhile, is scheduled in September to visit Vietnam on a bilateral visit, Hangzhou in China for the G-20 Summit where he will meet a host of world leadersm and Laos which is hosting the Asean summit.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the PMO said, “US secretary of state John Kerry and US secretary of commerce Penny Pritzker called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The two visiting secretaries briefed the Prime Minister on the 2nd India-US Strategic & Commercial Dialogue that concluded yesterday in New Delhi. They discussed progress in bilateral engagement since Prime Minister’s visit to US in June 2016. Secretary Kerry also shared US perspective on developments in the region and beyond with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister conveyed satisfaction at the expanded and strengthened strategic partnership between India and the United States over the past two years that has opened up new vistas for collaboration. He conveyed that he looked forward to rapid progress and successful completion of the decisions taken with President Obama at the recent Summit Meeting in June. The Prime Minister conveyed that he looked forward to meeting President Obama at the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China.”