NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, JAN 19
US President Donald Trump may hold an event similar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successful “Howdy, Modi!” in Houston last September when he visits India next month, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.
According to the Hindustan Times, it is now almost certain that the visit will happen in February, although the dates are still being worked on. The people cited in the first instance said the visit will be a stand-alone one, extend across three days, and will involve Trump visiting one Indian city apart from New Delhi. That Indian city will hold a Houston-like event, one of the people said. Ahmedabad will likely be the city, this person added, although it is yet to be finalised. Prime Minister Modi is also expected to participate in the event.
BJP and state administration circles in Gujarat were abuzz with talk on Saturday that US President Donald Trump might visit the state during a likely trip to India in February.
According to state party unit sources, an event called “Kem chho, Mr President” may be held in Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar.
Sources in the MEA said on Saturday they were not aware of any such proposal as yet but added that such decisions are usually made at the political level and that they may be told about it later for logistical and protocol reasons.
Politicians in the central BJP admitted that such an idea has been floated but that it remained an idea as yet.
The state government has already started preparations in anticipation of the visit, sources in Gujarat said. “If the visit is finalized, the US president is likely to visit Kevadia, the site of the world’s tallest statue — the Statue of Unity. President Trump and PM Modi will then visit Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. In Ahmedabad, Trump is likely to visit Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram,” said a senior Gujarat government official privy to the development.
At the “Howdy Modi” event in Houston last September, President Trump had joined PM Modi at a large gathering of Indian diaspora.
“The plan is to host a similar programme in Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar where the two leaders will address Indian diaspora and Indians who have families in the US,” said the official.
Americans of Gujarati origin are likely to join the Howdy Trump show, the first person said, adding that the event is being seen by the US President’s handlers as a good walk-up to this year’s US elections, especially given the number of Gujaratis in the US. The Indian diaspora is an important vote bloc, especially in the US and the UK. In the latter, for instance, they played a significant role with the vote almost shifting en masse from Labour to Conservatives.
Trump and Modi are expected to sign a short-term trade deal that could grant the US companies more access to Indian markets and restore to India trade benefits withdrawn last summer. They will also discuss a longer-term trade pact that could include a Free Trade Agreement.
