Published 11:33 IST, September 16th 2019
Punia says Trump sharing stage with PM Modi is a 'goodwill gesture'
"It's a goodwill gesture... It's a good thing. It's another initiative from both the sides to improve mutual relations," the Congress leader PL Punia said.
Congress leader PL Punia says that it is a "goodwill gesture" that United States President Donald Trump will share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston, Texas, on September 22, during the mega 'Howdy, Modi!' event.
'Goodwill gesture from both sides'
"It's a goodwill gesture... It's a good thing. It's another initiative from both the sides to improve mutual relations," the Congress leader said. Over 50,000 people have already been registered for the mega diaspora event at the NRG Stadium in Houston which is being hosted by the Texas India Forum.
US Press Secretary in a statement announced that US President Donald Trump will be travelling to Houston, Texas, and Wapakoneta, Ohio, to accentuate the important partnerships between the United States, India, and Australia. The US statement confirmed that Donald Trump would be participating in the 'Howdy, Modi!' event alongside PM Modi.
Prime Minister Modi tweeted his delight:
"The summit, with the theme of "Shared Dreams, Bright Futures" will highlight the contributions of Indian-Americans in enriching the American life for the last seven decades as well as the key role they have played in strengthening relations between the two nations.
Houston event will be PM Modi's third major address to the Indian-American community
The Houston event will be PM Modi's third major address to the Indian-American community after he became the Prime Minister in 2014 and the first after his re-election in May. The previous two were at the Madison Square Garden in New York in 2014 and the Silicon Valley in 2016. Both the events were attended by more than 20,000 people.
Describing it as the "largest event" of its kind, the Indian ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla to the US said it would be a bigger and momentous event as compared to all the previous overseas community events of the Prime Minister.
The mega event billed as 'Howdy Modi', has been broadly supported by organizations representing various communities in India as well as leading social service organizations, charities, university alumni groups, professional societies, and religious organizations. It has also attracted great enthusiastic participation from the Indian-American community. Organisers had closed the registration after it crossed 50,000.
PM Modi's huge fan following in Houston:
(Inputs from ANI)
Updated 13:02 IST, September 16th 2019