PM Modi targets Pak over terror, Kashmir with Trump listening
Houston: With US President Donald Trump listening keenly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India had bid “farewell” to Article 370 that went against people-centric development in Jammu and Kashmir and attacked Pakistan for making hatred towards India the hub of its governance and for fostering terrorism.
Ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with President Trump likely on Monday, Modi said that India’s neighbour is the breeding ground of terrorism, from 9/11 attacks in the US and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the entire world is aware about the source of the terror.
“What India has done (revoking Article 370), there are some people who have trouble over it, they are themselves unable to even take care of their own country,” he said, targeting Pakistan that has been attacking India over revocation of special status to Kashmir.
“They have made hatred towards India the centerpiece of their governance. They want ‘ashanti’ (disturbance). ‘Woh atank to paltey hain, postey hain’ (they are the breeding ground of terror), the whole world knows them, 9/11 or 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
“The time has come for a definite fight against terrorism. I want to state with emphasis that in this fight President Trump is with us strongly in the fight against terrorism, and he has shown his determination to fight against terrorism,” PM Modi said, and asked the audience to stand up and give a standing ovation to the US President.
The entire audience of 50,000 stood up and applauded in unison.
Raising the issue of the revocation of Article 370, with Pakistan set to raise it in the UN General Assembly, Modi said that for the past 70 years it was proving to be a hamper to development.
“For 70 years, it was proving a big challenge that India has given a farewell to. It kept people away from the benefits of development, and from equality, and it was being used by separatists. And the Constitution that is for the rest of India is now also for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. All the discrimination that women, children and Dalits were facing, has been ended.”
Modi said the legislation for the purpose was passed with two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament, including the upper house where his government did not have majority, and the proceedings were telecast.
He asked the entire cheering audience to give a standing ovation to the Parliament for its move. “I want all of you to give a standing ovation for this,” he said and the 50,000 crowd of Indian-Americans stood up, cheering and chanting “Modi, Modi”, as the US President and a host of US Congressmen watched.
The standing ovation was also a move to bring home to the US President and the Congressmen the wide support that the revocation of special status in Kashmir enjoys.
PM Modi urges diaspora to help boost tourism
Houston: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indian Americans to help boost tourism in India by bringing at least five non Indian families to India.
“Can you do a small work for me, can I depend on you?” he said during a community reception by the Texas India Foundation, that had organised the massive ‘Howdy Modi’ event earlier.
“I am asking Indians to make a promise to bring at least five non-Indian families to India,” to which the audience clapped.
Praising the Indian American community, the PM said they have set the foundation for a bright future for India-US ties.
The PM unveiled the plaque of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Eternal Gandhi Museum, inauguration of the Gujarati Samaj of Houston Event Centre and for a Siddhi Vinayak temple.
“The Eternal Gandhi museum will be a prized cultural landmark in Houston. I have been associated with this effort for a while. It will surely make Gandhi Ji’s thoughts popular among the youth,” he said.
Thank you Houston for such amazing affection, says PM Modi
Houston (Texas): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked Houston for its “amazing” welcome and affection for the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event organised at the NRG stadium here where over 50,000 gathered to greet him and US President Donald Trump.
“Thank you Houston for such amazing affection! #HowdyModi,” PMO tweeted.
The PMO also posted a video when the Prime Minister arrived at the dias before an estimated 50,000 strong crowd of Indian-Americans at the NRG stadium for the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event in a rare gesture that signifies the close bond between India and the US.
The event being held at the NRG Football Stadium, one of the largest in the US, has been organised by the Texas India Forum (TIF), a non-profit organisation.
Modi is in Houston on the second of his seven-day visit to the US.
