The Telegraph file pictureUS President Donald Trump is understood to have declined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to be chief guest at next year’s Republic Day Parade, an invite that appears to have gone out directly to the White House without using the usual diplomatic channels. There was never any official confirmation from either the external affairs ministry or the US embassy in New Delhi about the invitation. In July, media reports had said that Modi had invited Trump in April for the 2019 Republic Day, which will be this government’s last. Trump is the second US President to be invited to the Republic Day parade under this government’s watch. In 2015 — Modi’s first Republic Day as Prime Minister — Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama was the chief guest.

Source: The Telegraph October 28, 2018 21:56 UTC