TRUMP DIALS PM, CONGRATULATES HIM ON POLL WINS

WASHINGTON: US president Donald Trump called PM Narendra Modi on Monday to congratulate him on his recent state election victories, and went on to express “support” for his economic reforms and “great respect” for Indians.

The president had also called German chancellor Angela Merkel for her party’s victory in a provincial election, Spicer added. “President Donald J Trump spoke with PM Narendra Modi of India to congratulate him on the outcome of India’s recent state-level elections,” the White House said in a statement Tuesday.

“President Trump expressed support for the Prime Minister’s economic reform agenda and emphasised his great respect for the people of India. President Trump also said he looks forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi in Washington later this year.” The White House calls were announced by press secretary Sean Spicer at his daily briefing Monday. But details followed in separate statements a day later. While Modi’s BJP won UP and Uttarakhand and formed coalition governments in Goa, Merkel’s centrist-right Christian Democratic Union won a state election in Saarland.