'Howdy Modi' highlights: PM Modi rakes up Article 370, invites Trump to India

The event gives Modi, a nationalist facing international criticism over a recent crackdown in disputed Kashmir, a chance to energize his relationship with Indian-Americans who are active political supporters. Trump, meanwhile, will face a largely foreign-born audience that may not prove receptive to his typical strident anti-immigrant messages.

Jubilant supporters dressed in everything from ornate saris to simple dhotis and even a few cowboy hats waved American and Indian flags, chanted “Modi! Modi!” and munched on concession stand snacks that included Indian staples of samosas and naan breads - along with nachos.

It will not be the first time Modi, who heads the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, has addressed a large crowd in the United States, which is home to about 4 million Indian-Americans including about 300,000 in Houston and nearby Dallas, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census data.

Some 19,000 people turned out for a similar event in New York in 2014, and Indian-American volunteers living in U.S. suburbs helped run a telephone blitz of voters in India in the run-up to his May re-election campaign.

"Abki bar, Trump sarkar", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a tacit backing for US President Donald Trump who is seeking re-election, and said his presence on the stage with him signaled the close partnership between the two nations.

At the event, Modi and Trump clasped hands as they took the stage to a mix of drumbeats and cheers. Many spectators in the crowd of wore white T-shirts that proclaimed: "Howdy, Modi."

"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.

The slogan 'Abki Baar Trump Sarkar' was coined in 2016 by the Republican Hindu Coalition, which supported Trump and campaigned for him among the Indian-Americans. However, by using the 2016 campaign slogan ahead of the next year's presidential elections, many consider it as Modi's apparent endorsement of Trump's candidature for the 2020 polls.

Trump, a Republican, has already announced that he will seek a second term at the White House in the general elections in 2020.

Reacting to Modi's remarks, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma in a tweet said the prime minister violated India's policy of non-interference in the domestic elections of another country. 

"This morning we have a very special person with us, he needs no introduction. His name is familiar to every person on the planet. His name comes up in almost every conversation on global politics, his every word is followed by tens of millions," said Modi, with President Trump listening and smiling.

"He was a household name and very popular even before he went to occupy the highest office in this great country

"From CEO, to commander-in-chief, from board rooms to the Oval Office, from studios to the global stage, from politics to the economy and security, he has left a deep and lasting impact everywhere. Today he is here with us, and it is my honour and privilege to welcome him here in this magnificent stadium and magnificent gathering.

"And I can say I had a chance to meet him often and everytime I found the friendliness, warmth and energy of the President of the USA, Donald Trump. This is extraordinary, this is unprecedented... 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.

"I admire him, for something more, his sense of leadership, a passion for America, a concern for every American, a belief in the American future, and a strong resolve to make America great again.

"And he has already made the American economy strong again. He has achieved much for the US and for the world. Friends, we in India have connected well with America.

He said the US President's presence on the stage was a testimony to the strong friendship between their two countries.

"This morning in Houston, you can hear the heartbeat of this great partnership in the celebration of the two largest democracies. You can feel the strength and depth of the human bonds, between our two great nations.

"People are at the heart of the relations, from Houston to Hyderabad, from Boston to Bengaluru, from Chicago to Shimla, from Los Angele to Ludhiana, from New Jersey to New Delhi, hundreds of millions are glued to their TV, even though it is rather late on a Sunday night in India.

"Millions around the world in different time zones are with us today, they are witnessing history in the making.

"Mr President, you had introduced me to your family in 2017, and today I have the honour to introduce you to my family," Modi said to loud cheers.

"Over a billion Indians and people of Indian heritage around the globe, ladies and gentlemen I present to you my friend, a friend of India, a great American President Mr Donald Trump."

US President Donald Trump on Sunday praised the Indian-American community for revolutionizing the world of technology.

Appearing at the 'Howdy, Modi!', in a rare gesture that signifies the close bond between India and the US, President Trump told the gathering of over 50,000 people at the NRG stadium here: "Indian-Americans are helping revolutionize technology to change the world and improving lives".

Thousands of Indians are working at some top American tech firms that are run by Indian-origin CEOs like Satya Nadella at Microsoft, Sundar Pichai at Google and Shantanu Narayen at Adobe, among others.

Trump further said both the countries will work together to create cutting-edge technology to benefit millions.

Signalling his support for legal immigration, Trump had said in June that he will change the H1-B visa system for professionals to ensure "certainty" and a path to citizenship for those on the visa.

"H1-B holders in the US can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the US," he had tweeted.

Indians are the biggest beneficiaries of the temporary H1-B visas, 76 per cent of which went to professionals from India last year, according to government statistics.

Limiting H1-B visas has been a matter of concern for India and New Delhi has taken it up with Washington as a trade-related issue.

Major US companies have warned that the limiting of H1-B visas and the long wait for permanent residence seriously affects their ability to get and retain talented staff.

A total of 85,000 H1-B visas are available each year under regulations imposed by the Congress. Of these, 20,000 are reserved for those graduating with advance degrees from US universities.

The Prime Minister asserted that everything is okay in the country and repeated the phrase in number of Indian languages including Punjabi, Gujarati, Bangla and Hindi. The Prime Minister said while Indians are known for their patience, now the country has become 'adheer' (restive) about development. He said ''We are changing ourselves and challenging ourselves....We are aiming high and achieving higher''. The Prime Minister said in India the most spoken word is 'Vikaas' (development) and the mantra is 'Sabka saath, Sabka Vikaas' (Development of all with participation of all).

Emphasising that diversity is the foundation of India's democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country's various languages are an important identity of its liberal and democratic society.

Modi said India has progressed for centuries with dozens of languages and hundreds of dialects.

"Our various languages are an important identity of our liberal and democratic society. For centuries, our nation has been moving forward with dozens of languages and hundreds of dialects. Diversity is the foundation of our vibrant democracy," he said.

Modi highlighted the importance of linguistic diversity at a time when Home Minister Amit Shah pitched for Hindi as a common language, which drew flak from Opposition parties.

However, Shah had later clarified that he never asked for imposition of Hindi over native languages in the country but advocated its use as the second language.

To highlight the linguistic diversity of India, Modi said "all is fine in India" in several Indian languages from Punjabi to Bengali to Tamil among others.

"When you ask me Howdy, Modi? the only answer is 'everything is fine'," he said and then kept on repeating it in several Indian languages

US President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed to protect innocent civilians from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism and said border security is vital to both America and India as he emphasised on bolstering further the Indo-US security relationship.

Trump said the two countries will soon sign several defence deals to bolster their relationship. The president said over the last decade, India and US' defence cooperation has reached USD 18 billion.

"We are committed to protect innocent civilians from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism," the US president said.

"India and the US also understand that to keep our community safe, we must protect our borders. Border security is vital to the United States. Border Security is vital to India. And we understand that," Trump said as Prime Minister Modi was seen clapping.

India accuses Pakistan of providing safe haven to terror groups, which carry out attacks in the neighbouring countries.

"We are further taking unprecedented action to secure our southern border (with Mexico) and stop illegal immigration," Trump said while the crowd cheered.

He said illegal immigration is unfair to legal immigrants who pay taxes and obey laws.

During his nearly 25-minute speech, Trump praised Modi's economic reforms and said these reforms have lifted more than three million people out of poverty.

"And that is an incredible number," he added.

"Together we will continue to deepen our ties, advance cutting edge technology and lift millions and millions out of poverty," Trump said.

"In both India and the US, we're seeing something remarkable: Our people are prospering like never before because we are slashing bureaucracy and cutting red tape," Trump said.

"India has never had a better friend in the White House than President Donald Trump. My administration fights for you every day," Trump said.

He then praised his own administration's economic record, which he said created 70,000 new Texas manufacturing jobs.

"Unemployment in Texas is currently at the lowest rate ever recorded in the history of our country, and unemployment in the United States has just reached the lowest level in over 51 years," he said.

He said that over the last two years, unemployment among Indian-Americans dropped by one-third.

Noting that the US is the No 1 producer of oil and natural gas on the planet, Trump said he was thrilled to hear about the Indian companies pledge to purchase up to 5 million tonnes of LNG a year from the US, which could lead to billions of dollars of LNG exports to India in the coming years."

"India has never invested in the United States like it's doing today," Trump said, adding "I want to say, it's reciprocal, because we're doing the same in India."

Trump said in November the US and India will demonstrate dramatic progress of their defence relationship, holding the first-ever trilateral-service military exercise between our nations - 'Tiger Triumph'.

"Prime Minister Modi and I have come to Houston to celebrate everything that defines the India-America relationship," Trump said.

He described Modi as "a great man, a great leader and my friend."

The US president also praised the contributions of the Indian-Americans, saying they have enriched "our culture and uplifted our values. We are proud to have them as Americans."

Time for a decisive battle against terrorism has come, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday as he defended revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

He said India has given farewell to Article 370, which allowed terrorism and separatism to rear its head in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi asked people to give standing ovation to the Indian parliamentarians for Parliament's nod to repeal Article 370 provisions.

"India's decision on Article 370 has troubled some people, who can't handle their country, who support terrorism," the prime minister said.

"Where do you find conspirators of 9/11 and 26/11 terror attacks," Modi said, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

"Time for decisive  battle against terrorism," he said.

Modi also praised India's democracy and said Indians are working day and night to realise its goal of new India.

"India is seeing new history and chemistry being made and witnessing new Indo-US synergy," he said.

"Our many languages are identity of our liberal and democratic society. Diversity is basis of our democracy," the prime minister said.

He said the recent elections showcased the Indian democracy's greatness across the world.

He said 61 crore people, twice US population, voted in the elections.

"India working day and night to realise its goal of new India; we are challenging and changing ourself," Modi said.