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Agencies
Houston
Tens of thousand of people turned out for an event hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a sports arena in Texas, at which US President Donald Trump delivered a keynote address.
The event on Sunday, dubbed “Howdy Modi,” had the feel of a typical Trump-style campaign rally. Both leaders, who have grown increasingly close, heaped praise on one another repeatedly.
Introducing Modi, Trump said the Indian premier would “give some of his wisdom, and his wisdom is indeed great.”
Modi praised Trump on the US economy and the president’s “wit.” The prime minister is coming off a recent election victory and the event comes ahead of US elections next year, in which Trump is battling to keep control of Texas, where a large Indian-American community resides.
Trump got large cheers for vowing to combat “radical Islamic terrorism.”
With many in the crowd decked out in formal Indian attire or the signature saffron of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, the event kicked off in a football stadium with a Sikh blessing, boisterous bhangra dancing and, in a nod to local customs, cheerleaders in cowboy hats.
Dubbed, with a Texan twang, “Howdy, Modi!”, organizers describe the gathering as the largest-ever reception for a foreign leader in the United States other than the pope, with more than 50,000 people registered. Modi, who cruised to a new mandate in elections this year, is fond of mass gatherings on his travels overseas as he seeks to demonstrate his appeal. While no less fond of the limelight, Trump’s presence is more unusual.
US presidents rarely join other countries’ leaders before diaspora events, and Trump -- with a hard line on immigration one of his signature issues -- is hardly known for celebrating ethnic diversity.
But with US elections due in 14 months Trump’s presence may help soften his image in Houston, one of the most multiethnic US cities and ground zero in the rival Democratic Party’s recent gains in the state of Texas, a must-win bastion of his Republican Party.
Sporting a matching vest and sari in yellow embroidery from Modi’s home state of Gujarat as well as caps in the Indian tricolor, Bhavin Parikh of Sacramento, California said he and his wife Shipti wanted to show their support.
“We are big fans of Modi and what he is doing for India and wanted to show our support,” Parikh said. He called the gathering “historic” due to Trump’s presence. But he demurred on whether the gathering also indicated backing for Trump.
“It is not a question of Democrat or Republican. It’s the American president supporting the Indian prime minister,” he said. The four-million-strong Indian-American community also forms an enticing pool of voters. With an average household income of $100,000, Indian-Americans are among the most prosperous US groups.
Houston
Tens of thousand of people turned out for an event hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a sports arena in Texas, at which US President Donald Trump delivered a keynote address.
The event on Sunday, dubbed “Howdy Modi,” had the feel of a typical Trump-style campaign rally. Both leaders, who have grown increasingly close, heaped praise on one another repeatedly.
Introducing Modi, Trump said the Indian premier would “give some of his wisdom, and his wisdom is indeed great.”
Modi praised Trump on the US economy and the president’s “wit.” The prime minister is coming off a recent election victory and the event comes ahead of US elections next year, in which Trump is battling to keep control of Texas, where a large Indian-American community resides.
Trump got large cheers for vowing to combat “radical Islamic terrorism.”
With many in the crowd decked out in formal Indian attire or the signature saffron of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, the event kicked off in a football stadium with a Sikh blessing, boisterous bhangra dancing and, in a nod to local customs, cheerleaders in cowboy hats.
Dubbed, with a Texan twang, “Howdy, Modi!”, organizers describe the gathering as the largest-ever reception for a foreign leader in the United States other than the pope, with more than 50,000 people registered. Modi, who cruised to a new mandate in elections this year, is fond of mass gatherings on his travels overseas as he seeks to demonstrate his appeal. While no less fond of the limelight, Trump’s presence is more unusual.
US presidents rarely join other countries’ leaders before diaspora events, and Trump -- with a hard line on immigration one of his signature issues -- is hardly known for celebrating ethnic diversity.
But with US elections due in 14 months Trump’s presence may help soften his image in Houston, one of the most multiethnic US cities and ground zero in the rival Democratic Party’s recent gains in the state of Texas, a must-win bastion of his Republican Party.
Sporting a matching vest and sari in yellow embroidery from Modi’s home state of Gujarat as well as caps in the Indian tricolor, Bhavin Parikh of Sacramento, California said he and his wife Shipti wanted to show their support.
“We are big fans of Modi and what he is doing for India and wanted to show our support,” Parikh said. He called the gathering “historic” due to Trump’s presence. But he demurred on whether the gathering also indicated backing for Trump.
“It is not a question of Democrat or Republican. It’s the American president supporting the Indian prime minister,” he said. The four-million-strong Indian-American community also forms an enticing pool of voters. With an average household income of $100,000, Indian-Americans are among the most prosperous US groups.
