Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi basked Sunday in a ‘rock star’ welcome to the United States as he vowed to work tirelessly to make his nation a major power.
In a massive show of support for a right-wing leader once shunned by Washington, some 18,500 people of Indian origin from across the United States and Canada packed into New York´s Madison Square Garden where they chanted his name and wore T-shirts bearing his picture.
Modi, who Monday will enjoy a red carpet welcome at the White House, renewed campaign pledges to unlock India´s economic potential by streamlining bureaucracy. He hailed Indian Americans for showing an example through their professional successes.
“There was a time when people thought that we were a country of snake-charmers,” Modi said. “Our people used to play with snakes, but now they play with the mouse — and that mouse makes the whole world run.”
In a touch inspired by US political conventions, balloons fell as Modi finished his speech while he waved to a crowd that chanted in Hindi, “Long Live Mother India.”
More than 30 US members of Congress took part in the reception that warmed up with Bollywood and traditional dances. But from the start, the crowd chanted for Modi.
Modi was refused a visa by the United States in 2005 on human rights grounds over anti-Muslim riots when he was leader of the western state of Gujarat.
Modi has denied wrongdoing and was never charged.
An activist group on the eve of his visit announced a lawsuit against Modi on behalf of three victims alleging “attempted genocide” and offered $10,000 to anyone who served the prime minister a summons.
