Trump: “The relationship between the United States and India is stronger than ever before” President Donald Trump took center stage at “Howdy, Modi!” following a speech from India’s leader praising the relationship between both nations.
“You (India) have never had a better friend as President as President Donald Trump,” Trump said at NRG Stadium Sunday afternoon. “Under PM Modi’s leadership, the world is witnessing a strong, sovereign republic of India.”President Donald Trump spoke highly of India’s investment in the US and even spoke about the NBA which recently announced its first-ever game in India.
“We welcome India’s growing investments right here in the lone star state. Nations around the world are investing in the United States because they know we have the best economy and best workers in world.We want to thank everybody and India has never invested in the US like it is doing today, and I want to say it’s reciprocal because we’re doing the same thing in India,” Trump said.
The game in India will feature the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers playing two preseason games October 4 and October 5 at the Dome, NSCI, SVP Stadium in Mumbai, the NBA stated on its website.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened his rally in Houston by praising President Donald Trump.
“Friends, as I told you, we have met a few times and every time he has been the same: warm, friendly, accessible, energetic and full of wit,” Modi said.
Modi also commended Trump’s administration for celebrating Diwali at the White House, and talked about the relationship between the United States and India.
“India has a true friend in the White House,” Modi said.
The India leader also invoked Trump in his signature campaign slogan, “Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar,” which translates to “This time, Modi government.” On stage, Modi replaced his name with Trump’s.
The Global Gatekeeper award, due to be given to Narendra Modi on September 24 in New York, celebrates the country’s Clean India program which has seen millions of toilets built as part of a drive to raise awareness of hygiene.
But a group of prominent South Asian Americans, who say they are “allies in philanthropy,” have written an open letter criticizing the award and urging the foundation to withdraw it, citing concerns over his human rights record.
“The Gates Foundation’s decision to honor PM Modi seems to be in complete contrast with your own stated mission: ‘we see equal value in all lives.’ As you are well aware, under PM Modi’s leadership, religious minorities all across India are facing heightened levels of violence, exclusion, and discrimination. For over a month now, PM Modi has placed 8 million people in Jammu and Kashmir under house arrest, blocked communications and media coverage to the outside world, detained thousands of people including children, and denied basic benefits.
Reports of torture, including beatings and the murder of a young child by Indian security officers, are emerging as well. In addition, the Indian government has begun to disenfranchise millions of residents, mainly Muslims, in the state of Assam,” the letter, which was published on Medium, stated.
Across India and beyond there have been widespread concerns about an increase in violent Hindu nationalism and vigilantism against minority Muslims since Modi came to power in 2014.
Modi, whose Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party was sworn in for a second term in May following a landslide victory, has faced intense criticism over allegations of human rights violations.
In August, Modi’s government’s stripped the state of Jammu and Kashmir of its partial autonomy and downgraded its federal status, imposing strict restrictions on movement and suspending all communications, in a dramatic crackdown that essentially shut the disputed region off from the outside world. Limited communications have been restored since in some districts in the region.