All's well in India, says PM at 'Howdy Modi' rally; Trump hints about visit

Modi spoke of his govt's decision to scrap the provisions of Article 370, and received sustained applause, and asked the audience to give a standing ovation to all members of the of Parliament.

“All’s well in India,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an estimated 50,000 members of the Indian diaspora in Houston on Sunday at an event titled Howdy Modi and days after his government slashed corporate tax to address concerns of an economic slowdown.

The PM concluded his rousing speech by inviting US President Donald Trump, along with his family, to visit India soon, and the two leaders with their hands clasped, took a round of the stadium waving at the crowd in a gesture to convey the strength of their friendship to which both had alluded to in their respective speeches.

Earlier, addressing the Indian diaspora at the NRG Stadium in Houston, the US President hinted at visiting India as early as October, while Modi seemed to endorse his support for Trump’s re-election next year, and suggesting to the Indian-American community to do the same, by declaring “abki baar Trump sarkaar”.

During his speech, the US President received loud cheers when he said India and the US were united in their fight against “radical Islamic terrorism”, which is likely to be interpreted as a message to Pakistan. Modi spoke of his government’s decision to scrap the provisions of Article 370, and received sustained applause, and asked the audience to give a standing ovation to all members of the two Houses of Parliament.

While not mentioning Pakistan by name, the PM said the decision has inconvenienced some people who cannot take care of their own country, who nurse and support terrorism. He said the time has come for a “decisive battle against terrorism and people who support terrorism”. He said the US President is standing against terrorism with all his strength, and asked people to give him a standing ovation.

The PM said the days of “incremental change” in India were over, and it has transformed rapidly in the last five years. He spoke of the various social welfare measures taken by his government and the objective to make India a $5-trillion economy.

Business Standard