WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. congressional leaders on Friday invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate on June 22, one of the highest honors Washington affords to foreign dignitaries. The speech would be Modi's second to a joint meeting of the U.S. legislature, a rare honor for a leader once denied a visa to enter the United States over human rights concerns. The State Department's annual report on human rights practices released in March listed "significant human rights issues" and abuses in India. Addresses to joint meetings of Congress are generally reserved for the closest U.S. allies or major world figures. In their letter, McCarthy, Schumer, McConnell and Jeffries said the address would celebrate the enduring friendship between the United States and India.

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Persons: Narendra Modi, Kevin McCarthy, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Hakeem Jeffries, Modi, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Jawaharlal Nehru, George W, Bush, McCarthy, Schumer, McConnell, Jeffries, Patricia Zengerle, Doina Organizations: Indian, Washington, Republican, Democratic, White House, Bharatiya Janata Party, South, Senate, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, China, India . New Delhi, Washington, Russia, Ukraine, Delhi, Indian, Gujarat, India