Howdy Modi: Terrorism, Border, and Chemistry Dominated Modi’s Speech at the Mega Rally in Houston
Narendra Modi also lent his tactical support to Donald Trump for his re-election bid in the US 2020 Presidential election, saying, “Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar”.
The friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump; Border and Terrorism were the main topics that dominated the speeches by both the leaders at the mega ‘Howdy Modi’ event held in Houston, Texas.
It was for the first time Narendra Modi and Donald Trump shared the stage together and addressed a record crowd of 50,000 Indian Americans on Sunday.
In his speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praises on President Donald Trump and said that the US President’s presence on the stage with him is a testimony of the close and strong relationship that the two nations share.
Prime Minister Modi said, “I admire him (Donald Trump) for something more, his passion for America, his sense of leadership, his concern for every American, a belief in the American future, and a strong resolve and commitment to make America great again. He has already made the economy of America strong again. He has also achieved much for the US and for the world”.
Narendra Modi also lent his tactical support to Donald Trump for his re-election bid in the US 2020 Presidential election, saying, “Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar”.
Meanwhile addressing the Indian diaspora at the Howdy Modi rally, President Donald Trump spoke of the values shared by the world’s two largest democracies and praised the Indian-American community for revolutionizing the world of technology. As he said, “Indian-Americans are helping each other to revolutionize technology to change the world and improving lives”.
President Trump also made a direct reference to Islamic terrorism, saying both the nation will jointly fight the “radical Islamic terrorism”, the comment was received with a standing ovation by the Indian American community at the packed Howdy, Modi!
In his speech, Donald Trump also said that border security is vital for both the United States as well as India and said, “India and America will together fight radical Islamic terrorism”. Trump also backed India’s bid to protect its borders, saying, “Both India and the United States understand that to keep our communities safe, we must protect our borders”.
When Donald Trump outlined that both the countries are committed to “protect innocent civilians from radical Islamic terrorism”, he once again received a standing ovation from the crowd, which also included Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi then rose on to address the Indian community. In his speech, PM Modi invited Donald Trump to visit India with his family. He also thanked Donald Trump for attending the event and Houston for welcoming him. He said, “We want you (Donald Trump) to come to India with your family, and give us the privilege of welcoming you. Our friendship and the Indian-American shared a dream...we will give it a new future”.
PM Narendra Modi made a veiled attack on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying the Indian government’s decision on Article 370 only bothered those, “who cannot even take care of their own country”, as Trump listened keenly.
PM Modi also cleared the government’s decision to scrap the provisions under Article 370, which gave a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), as he said, “Some people have a problem with the abrogation of Article 370, these are the same people who cannot govern their own country”.
He also said, “They are those, who shield and nurture terrorism and the whole world knows them very well. Their identity is in the sponsorship of terror and the world knows it”.
After the speech, both the leaders hugged and clasped their hands and walked together, waving to the cheering crowd at the mega event. The event not only established India’s dignified stand at the world’s stage, but also planted the seed of aggressive growth of Indo-US relationship.
Main image courtesy: Twitter