The first Indian-American baseball player and MLB draft inductee, Karan Patel, has issued a public statement on Twitter saying that he is thrilled to attend the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event on September 22. He has personally welcomed Indian PM Narendra Modi to Houston and called his city, Houston, as the most diversifiable city in the United States. This comes in the backdrop of the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event preparation that has been going on in Houston to host PM Modi by the end of this week. The organisers of Texas India Forum have released a promotional video and huge digital billboards on major highways across Houston. The Indian community in the USA will be holding a 90 minutes-long cultural program, “Woven: The Indian-American Story”, before PM Narendra Modi’s address. 

Indian origin Baseball player Karan Patel welcomes PM Modi 

The first Indian origin baseball player to be selected in the MLB draft has said in the video, “I would personally like to welcome the honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi Ji, to Houston, one of the most diversifiable cities in the United States. The city of Houston has four professional sports teams - the Houston Astros, Texans, Rockets, and Dynamos. Over the years that I have lived in Houston, I have always looked up to the Astros and thought one day that I’ll have the opportunity to play baseball at the professional level. In 2019, that dream has finally become a reality. I am honoured to be a part of this history-making event on September 22, honouring the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi Ji. On my behalf, I would like to give you a Texas-size welcome, Howdy Modi!” 

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Read | 'Howdy Modi' Houston event's promotional video released. Watch here

‘Howdy, Modi!’ 

'Howdy, Modi' is a community summit hosted by Texas India Forum (TIF) for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas at 10 am. US President Donald Trump has also confirmed that he will be joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Houston's mega "Howdy, Modi!" event on September 22, the White House said on Sunday. This would also be the first time that an American President would be addressing thousands of Indian-Americans in one place in the US. The event ‘Howdy, Modi!’ has also attracted great participation from the Indian-American community. The organisers had closed the registration after it crossed 50,000. After attending the event in Houston, PM Modi will fly to New York to attend the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. 

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