Indian-Americans give rock star treatment to Modi at Madison Square Garden, Indian-Americans from across the nation gave a rock star treatment to PM Modi. Indian-Americans from across the nation gave a rock star treatment to PM Modi at prestigious MSG in the Big Apple, where 20,000 strong gathering of Indian Diaspora welcomed Indian leader. Shouting slogans like Narendra Modi Zindabaad, Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Welcome Modi, Indian-Americans started arriving at the venue since early in the morning. People were seen waiting in long queues. By 9 pm a large number of people were dressed in Modi T-shirt with portrait of Modi on it. Many were holding banners and slogans like America Loves Modi. 20,000 packed Madison Square Garden for largest event of its kind for Indian-American community organised by recently formed Indian-American Community Foundation (IACF), and supported by more than 400 Indian-American organizers from across the country. He is a rock star, said young college going Deepa Kaur.We have a lot of expectations from him, Never seen before, organisers had lined up a number of cultural events including popular songs, folk dances. People were seen dancing to the tune of these cultural events. 200 media, a significantly large number of them from India, had registered for the event; which organisers said is unprecedented for an Indian American event. He is first PM who is connected to NRI (non-resident Indian community). Thats why you see such a large number of people. We filled up seats in just two weeks. It has never happened in the history of MSG that seats gets filled up some three weeks before the event, said Anil Sharma, one of the volunteers of event. In fact, 2,000 volunteers worked day and night for past 3 weeks to make he program a success. Its Modi Mania, Ankit Patel. Its a life time event, In fact event attracted some three dozen Congressmen incl several power lawmakers like Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, and Congressman Ami Bera. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal were also present. A huge contingent of Indian-American corporate leaders and IT professionals came in from the Silicon Valley for the mega event. New York Times in a headline Indian Leader Narendra Modi, Once Unwelcome in US gets a Rock Star Reception story today wrote Modi will receive a rally fit for a rock star. Modis fans were seen carrying the Indian tricolour and wore traditional Indian garb with several groups of performers carrying drums and dhols to give him a rousing welcome. There was also a group of Tibetan women carrying banners in support of Modi. Strict security arrangements are in place wth police barricades at several locations. There is also a large group of anti-Modi protesters who have gathered outside the garden shouting slogans against the prime minister. They are carrying banners reading Modi - visa still denied, Wanted Modi for crimes against humanity, India must end oppression of minorities, Hindutva will destroy India - led by the Alliance for Justice and Accountability. Robindra Deb, an anti-Modi protester said, We have gathered outside Madison Square Garden to remind the people of what happened in 2002 (Gujarat riots) under Modis governance. Modi needs to be held accountable. Not the entire Indian American community supports him. Besides the main venue, there would be at least 50 other locations across country where special arrangements have been made for the live telecast of the prime ministers speech and other events that include a nearly two-hour-long entertainment programme. At 16.4%, Indian-Americans are the third largest Asian-American group in US, numbering 2.8 million strong, which is almost 1% of the US population.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 01:00:02 +0000
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