US senator John McCain on Thursday held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

His meet with the PM came a day after the US Senator discussed with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj ways to boost the bilateral relationship, as well as the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A new row has overshadowed a visit to India by the Republican US Senator.

On Wednesday, India had summoned a top US diplomat to convey its serious concern over reports that the BJP was among the parties which the US' National Security Agency was authorised to spy upon.

McCain, who told the Senate last week that Washington should seek to help India's economic and military development, cancelled a news conference due to be held outside Foreign Ministry after India summoned the US diplomat to explain the spying report.

US and Indian officials gave differing explanations for the cancellation, but said it was not linked to the row.