Will stop Islamic radicalism: US Prez

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune news Service

Ahmedabad, February 24

An overwhelmed US President Donald Trump today declared “from this day on, India will hold a very special place in our hearts” as he faced a wildly cheering, packed-to-the-rafters crowd of over one lakh at the “Namaste Trump” rally at the Motera cricket stadium here while millions watched live proceedings on TV.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose address preceded Trump’s speech, said the visit would start a new chapter in India-US ties that would usher shared prosperity to both nations. “With this visit, India-US relations are no longer just another partnership. It is a far greater closer relationship,” he declared.

Trump delivered his customary platitudes, terming the pageantry a “stunning display” of Indian culture and appreciating the “spectacular welcome to a magnificent country” whose hospitality his family would remember “forever”.

Turning to PM Modi, Trump borrowed from daughter Ivanka’s speech during her Hyderabad visit two years back to recall how Modi started out by his father’s side as a “chaiwala” to evolve into a tough negotiator for his country’s interests as Prime Minister.

But Trump also underlined what made India stand out among a group of large and powerful nations. “Here is all the difference between a nation that seeks to claim power through coercion, intimidation, aggression and a country that seeks to grow by setting its people free and unleashing their dreams, and that’s India,” he said. The comments went unappreciated as compared to his account about the defeat of ISIS, the resolve to jointly defeat Islamic radicalism and the mention of Pakistan.

Before coming to the business end of his trip, Trump pressed all the right buttons, mentioning two biggest Bollywood hits “Sholay” and “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”, a slightly mispronounced Swami Vivekanand and cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

While both leaders spoke on diversity, it was Trump alone who twice mentioned the Muslims and all other communities contributing to the vibrancy of Indian culture. He also mentioned Delhi’s Jama Masjid along with the Golden Temple as prime symbols of India’s multiplicity of cultures. Moving on to the real purpose of his visit — making India America’s premier defence partner and inking a mega trade deal — Trump expressed satisfaction over India placing defence orders worth over Rs. 21,000 crore ($ 3 billion) on US arms manufacturers on the eve of his arrival. “Missiles, rockets or ships, we make the best. I believe the US should be India’s premier defence partner. That’s how it is working out. That’s why I have come to India to expand the partnership.’’ Next on the Indian order book are advanced air defence systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles.

The other prime factor for his 8,000-mile trip was to sell more American goods to the largest middle class in the world. “We will be making the biggest-ever trade deal… a fantastic deal that is good and great for our countries except that he’s (Modi) is a very tough negotiator.’’

The loudest cheering came when Trump touched on Pakistan and terrorism. Declaring that the US and India were on the same page in fighting terrorism and its ideology, Trump said his government was working with Pakistan to crack down on terror organisations and militants operating from across the Pakistan border.

PM Modi then delivered another address, translating some of what Trump had said and also giving an overview of India’s progress, before drums began rolling to mark the end of an extraordinary joint public appearance by the two leaders in a shade under an hour.

Unlike at ‘Howdy Modi’ in Houston, the crowds at ‘Namaste Trump’ had to turn up six hours before the event. The first stream began leaving soon after Trump began speaking, but most stayed on till the end of Modi’s return address.

Golden Temple, Jama Masjid cited

While both leaders spoke on diversity, it was Trump alone who twice mentioned the Muslims and other communities contributing to the vibrancy of Indian culture. He mentioned Delhi’s Jama Masjid along with Golden Temple as prime symbols of India’s multiplicity of cultures

Of Asia-Pacific and India’s concerns

A Modi-Trump vision statement on the future of ties will outline the joint US-Japan-Australia endeavour that seeks to enlist India and address its grouse on inordinate military orientation of Asia-Pacific strategy. The PM briefly touched the subject in his Ahmedabad address. TNS

• Modi, Trump heap praise on each other before a 1,00,000-strong enthusiastic crowd at Motera stadium
• Trump says US looks forward to providing India with the ‘best and most feared military equipment’
• Says America loves India and will always be a ‘faithful and loyal friend to the Indian people’

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