The American President has appreciated India while addressing a mass gathering in the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad on 24th of Feb. President Trump and PM Modi addressed the huge rally of 1 lakh 10 thousand people there. The 45th President of the U.S. has come to India for his first ever diplomatic visit. He is accompanied by a high level delegation including the First lady Melania Trump, the president’s daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump, son-in-law and advisor Jared Khushner and a team of top American officials. A grand public reception was held for Trump at Motera Stadium, termed as ‘Namaste Trump’.
A similar event was organised in America for PM Modi in Texas when he visited America in September 2019 in which around 50,000 Indian-American took part.
Who organised ‘Namaste Trump’?
The organisers were not the Gujarat government,but a private newly formed group called the ‘Donald Trump Nagrik Abhinandan Samiti’ (DTNAS) which just emerged 4 days prior to the scheduled date of the american president’s visit. It is approximated that the cost for the 3 hour long event is going to be around 120 crore rupees.
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After landing in Ahmedabad, the PM escorted the President and the First lady to ‘Hriday Kunj’ at Sabarmati Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi where the Trumps also spun the yarn before making an entry in the guestbook. Several gifts, including Mahatma mGandhi ji’s biography, a charkha, and a marble statue of three monkeys symbolising ‘ See no evil, Speak no evil and Hear no evil’ were presented to Trump at the Sabarmati Ashram.
It’s the first time that an American president visited the Sabarmati Ashram.
But Trump didn’t mention any word about Mahatma Gandhi ji in the visitor’s book, he just thanked PM Modi for escorting him to Sabarmati Ashram.
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After the Sabarmati Ashram visit, POTUS was led past a “road show” of stages representing the 28 states of India on his way to the Motera stadium.
There’s a controversy also going around this road show. The government a build a 5 feet high wall along the road that leads to the Motera stadium so that the slums along the road can’t be seen by the foreign dignitaries.
What Trump says in his speech.
Trump signifies the friendship between India and America and said that America will always be India’s faithful friend. He said, “India holds a special place in our hearts. India gives hope to humanity.” he also praises PM Modi and his journey of becoming the PM.
He also praises the journey of India in the past 70 years and said that India has become the largest democracy and has become one of the greatest nations in the world.
He praised the many development works done in India. He said that now India’s each village has access to electricity. Over 300 million people in India have got internet connection. India will soon become the home to the largest middle class. He praised India’s achievement in the space world, praises ISRO, especially for the Chandrayan 2 mission.
Trump also tried to acknowledge the soft power between the two nations. He praises the contribution of Bollywood in the entertainment world and has also said the words of ‘Sholay’ and ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’. He also said good words for indian cricket players, Sachin and Kohli.
On Terrorism
He said that the two nations are commited to fight terrorism and its ideology from the world.
He said that the U.S. is determined to help protect India from the threat of ‘radical Islamic terrorism’.But he also appreciated the role of Pakistan in fighting against the terrorism. He said, ‘Our government is working with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups. Our relationship with Pakistan is very good.
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The American President didn’t criticize Pakistan because Donald Trump want to withdraw the U.S. troops from Afghanistan, who were fighting with the Taliban forces since 2001. Pakistan is a crucial player in the mediation talks between the Taliban and the American Government. Without Pakistan, it would be difficult for America to withdrew its forces from Afghanistan.
What about Trade deal?
Last year the US has revoked the status of GSP given to india, under which many of the indian commodities were exempted from excise
duty in U.S., and the indian products were able to compete in the American Markets. But after the revocation of GSP status, Indian companies struggles a lot to establish its presence in the American market.
India is hopeful of a significant trade deal on Tuesday.
Regarding the trade deal, Trump said, “USA and India will be making a very big trade deal to boost our countries economy. I am sure that we can reach a good trade. But PM Modi is a tough negotiator.” Trump also lashed out at trade barriers imposed by India.
But there will be a major defence deal on tuesday. india will buy anti-tank helicopter from America.
Effect of huge reception event like this
The Presidential elections are in November in U.S. The Indian American population in the U.S., totalling about 4 million, has increased by 40 % between 2010 and 2017. Thus, making them the fastest growing immigrant group in the country. It is also considered that Trump is attending this kind of huge event organised by India to influence the Indian American population as the Indian Americans now play a deciding role in the U.S. presidential elections.
This could also affect India-America relation in adverse manner in the future if the Democrats win the Presidential election in November because they can consider it as a step to influence the Indian-Americans to vote for Trump. Last year in september also, PM Modi interacted with Indian-Americans in ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Houston and said, “Abki bar, Trump sarkar” which was similar to the election campaign slogan of Narendra Modi during the 2014 Prime Minestrial elections, “Abki bar, Modi sarkar”.
source link: https://www.molitics.in/article/652/namaste-trump-in-india
