Support for Trump, jibe at Pakistan mark 'Howdy Modi' show in Houston

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 22) hit out at Pakistan for fostering terrorism, and also pitched for a second term for Donald Trump in the 2020 US Presidential elections, from the dais of the Howdy Modi event in Houston, Texas.

Re-coining his election campaign slogan to ‘Ab ki baar Trump sarkar‘, Modi hailed Trump for his strong stance on terrorism, as he attacked Pakistan for its rhetoric over India’s decision to repeal Article 370 provisions giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing over 50,000 Indian-Americans at the event, Modi hailed India as a liberal and democratic society. “Diversity is the basis of our democracy.”

For highlights click here

“India’s decision on Article 370 has troubled some people, who can’t handle their country, who support terrorism. Where do you find conspirators of 9/11 and 26/11 terror attacks?” the prime minister asked in an apparent reference to Pakistan, drawing a round of cheer and applause.

Trump, on his part, said that border security was vital for both India and the US and he would take strong measures to protect innocent civilians from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism.

“India and the US 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. Together we will continue to deepen our ties, advance cutting edge technology and lift millions and millions out of poverty,” he said.

The USA Loves India! https://t.co/xlfnWafxpg

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2019

Also read | India never had a better friend than me, says Trump at Howdy Modi

Trump said that in November, the US and India will demonstrate a dramatic progress of their defence relationship and hold the first-ever trilateral-service military exercise between the two nations, called Tiger Triumph.

In a display of friendship between the two countries, Trump said India has never had a better friend in the White House than him.

Trump also dwelt on the reduction in unemployment in the US.

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