PM Modi had no plans to address UN General Assembly session

According to earlier reports, the Indian prime minister was expected to address the UNGA session on September 26

India had never planned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the forthcoming UN General Assembly session in New York. Hence the media reports by Hindustan Times newspaper that PM was going to skip the session is purely imaginary and speculative.

According to the paper, “this comes amid tariff tensions between India and the United States after President Donald Trump imposed ‘punitive’ levies on New Delhi for purchasing oil from Russia.”
The prime minister had never planned to address the UNGA session on September
26.

According to the speakers’ list, India is scheduled to address the Assembly on the morning of September 27. Therefore as per established protocol Shri Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Foreign Minister. would represent the country.

India and the United States had launched talks on a large-scale trade agreement in February, following Modi’s visit to Washington. The two countries seek to increase annual trade to $500 billion by 2030.

India’s delegation made several trips to Washington to hold talks on the document; The document was expected to be signed in the fall after a US delegation’s visit to India for the sixth round of talks, set for August 25.

However the USA tried to pressurize India for a DEAL on their terms, which was outright rejected by India. No wonder the the American delegation’s visit has been cancelled canceled.

On August 6, the US raised tariffs on Indian goods by 25% to 50%, with an aim to force New Delhi’s to cancel purchase of all Russian oil and petroleum products.

Instead India went ahead to increase the volume of oil purchases from Russia.