The New York Times has sought responses from people of Indian origin living in the U.S. about their reactions to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the country. Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party won parliamentary elections in a landslide in May, is expected to make a splash with his much-anticipated trip, the Times says.
“If you are of Indian origin living in the United States, we invite you to fill out this form. Your name and comments may be published, but your contact information will not. A reporter or editor from
The Times may follow up with you directly to learn more about your story,” the introduction to the questionnaire says.
This will be Modi’s first visit after the State Department denied him a visa in 2005 over the religious riots in Gujarat when he was the chief minister.
Modi will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York and address an audience of Indian-Americans at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 28. He will also visit Washington, D.C.
Organizers of the Sept. 28 reception told Desi Talk that they expect Madison Square Garden to be filled to capacity to greet Modi. The event will be emceed by Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri and PBS NewsHour Weekend anchor Hari Sreenivasan.
Organizers say the event will be the largest gathering ever to greet a Prime Minister of India outside the subcontinent, according to a Sept. 10 press release issued by the Indian American Community Foundation, established for the high-level visit.
A live webcast is planned for those who could not get passes and others around the country.
A number of Indian and American themed cultural performances will lead up to the Prime Minister’s address in what seems very much like a victory celebration for the thousands of Modi supporters in the United States.