Houston event ‘win-win’ situation for Modi, Trump: Advocacy group head

Washington, September 21

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump attending the mega ‘Howdy Modi’ event together in Houston is a “win-win” situation not only for both the leaders, but also for their countries, the head of a US-based India-centric corporate advocacy group has said.

Trump will join Modi and they will address more than 50,000 Indian-Americans at the event on Sunday.

In an unprecedented and bold gesture, Trump would fly to Houston on Sunday, September 23, just for a few hours to join Modi at the largest-ever gathering of Indian-Americans in the US.

“Overall, the message is very loud and clear that the US and  India are natural allies and this relationship will get stronger as time goes by,” Mukesh Aghi, president of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum, told PTI on the eve of the arrival of Modi to Houston.

This is the largest gathering of Indian-Americans, which is the most affluent minority group in America. They contribute on a per capita basis, the highest to political campaigns, he said.

“And it is in a state that is always significant for elections. It’s a win for President Trump to come to Houston to address this gathering in partnership with Modi,” Aghi said.

“From Modi’s perspective, there are a couple of areas where he needs US support. One is on the issue of geopolitics in the region. Also, the message which President Trump sends when he speaks along with the prime minister is that the US and India are geopolitically aligned. So, it is win-win not only for both leaders, but for both countries also,” he said.

Aghi said the position of the US government is that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and India had not done anything to change line of control or any other international territorial aspect and that this is India’s internal matter. PTI