Time for decisive battle against terror: PM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 22

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the time had come for a definitive, all-out fight against terrorism and assured the audience of 50,000 Indian-Americans hatgathered at Houston, Texas, that US President Donald Trump would completely back this struggle.

Making his debut as a poet, PM Modi recited a two-line couplet he had penned to make the point that despite challenges, India was aiming at a transformation instead of incremental gain (“Woh jo mushkilon ka ambaar ha, wahi to mere hausle ki minar hai”) after President Trump had delivered his speech and walked offstage.

Making repeated stabs at “another country”, PM Modi said the latter was interested in coveting Indian territory when it could not take care of its own territory. This country, he said, had a hand in every major outrage across the world. PM Modi hoped to talk on substantial matters, including trade later in the week with Trump. Revealing that Trump had described him as a “master negotiator”, PM Modi described the US President as the master of the art of deal.

Trump and PM Modi appeared on stage together in the US with both leaders describing the event as “history in the making”. This is perhaps the first appearance by a US President at a rally of this proportion organised by a Prime Minister of an overseas country. They ended the evening, walking out hand in hand.

There was no announcement on trade as had been being anticipated though Trump did utilise the occasion to seek greater exports of American defence equipment and energy to India while expressing empathy and solidarity with its battle against radical Islamic terrorism and border management, the last two to the accompaniment of loud cheer from an involved audience of Indian-Americans at the NRG Stadium. He also spoke of space cooperation and the upcoming tri-services exercise between the two armies. “Our dream is better. Our future is brighter,” said Trump as he handed over the stage to PM Modi.

PM Modi said a new history and new chemistry was in the making at a time when India was challenging itself and changing itself. “India wants to move ahead more quickly. India is challenging the thinking that nothing can change,” he said. For the most part, PM Modi recounted his domestic achievements, each claim met by a resounding cheer from the audience. He also sought to paper over the language controversy by pointing out that democracy meant flowering of several languages.

The PM spoke of “farewell” to Article 370 and the likely benefits to the people of J&K and Ladakh. 

Earlier, the two leaders walked in together and after an elaborate introduction in English, PM Modi went offstage, leaving Trump to describe him as the “most loyal friend” who is “doing a truly exceptional job for India”.

For a considerable period, Trump spoke on domestic politics — the flooding of Houston and the revival of the American economy. But he would always touch on India and Indian-Americans in glowing terms while wishing PM Modi a belated happy birthday and expressing amazement at the number of votes his party received in the 2019 elections.

Trump also commended Modi for lifting 300 million from poverty with plans to raise 140 million to middle class status. PM Modi began by wishing, “Good morning Houston, good morning Texas, good morning America”. With Trump by his side, he spoke in English of “a very special person with us who needs no introduction and is familiar to every person on the planet. His word comes up in every conversation on global politics”.  

He described Trump’s gesture “extraordinary” and described him as “unprecedented, warm, friendly, accessible, energetic and full of beans”. All this while Trump stood by with a fixed smile.

Appearing to campaign for Trump, Modi brought the house down by calling for “Apki baar, Trump sarkar” while mentioning how the White House’s celebration of Diwali had “lit up many faces with joy and appreciation.”

The Prime Minister received a raucous welcome from the 50,000 Indian-Americans when he first arrived briefly onstage at the packed NRG Stadium. He strode in dressed in a black and white checked Nehru jacket, an off-cream kurta and white churidar, the contrast accentuated by the accompanying entourage dressed in suit and tie.

He immediately strode over to the assembly of US Congressmen gather onstage in a wide semi-circle, shaking hands with each one of them while the audience enthusiastically  clicked from their mobile phones and kept up a high-decibel level. He then walked into the middle of the assemblage of Congressemen for a photo op. The stage for the Modi show was set when the Congressemen trooped offstage and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner presented him with symbolic key to the city. 

He was introduced to the audience by Steny Hoyer, the second ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives since 2003. The rambunctiousness took a back-seat as the senior venerable House Minority Whip traced the trajectory of Indo-US ties. 

Sikhs meet PM, elated over corridor  

Houston: A delegation of Sikhs met PM Modi  and thanked him for going ahead with the Kartarpur corridor. Modi also met Kashmiri Pandits and Dawoodi Bohras. The 50-member Sikh delegation presented the PM with a ‘siropa’ at Post Oak Hotel, where the PM is staying. “The credit for the Kartarpur corridor goes to Modi,” said a member of  the delegation. The delegation also thanked Modi for removing the names of over 300 Sikhs from the blacklist. IANS

Anti-India protests outside venue 

Houston: A group of anti-India protesters staged demonstrations and showed protest flags to the motorcade of US President Donald Trump while he was on his way to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ‘Howdy, Modi’ event. On his way back to the airport after addressing the event, Trump again faced protesters holding Kashmiri separatist flags. Outside the NRG stadium where the mega event took place, protesters rallied but slowly dissipated. PTI

PM’s pitch: ‘Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar’

Houston: PM Narendra Modi cheered for Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election bid saying ‘Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar’. “We in India connected well with President Trump and with the words of candidate Trump, ‘Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar’, rang loud and clear,” Modi said, rephrasing his election slogan ‘Abki Baar, Modi Sarkar’.