New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic US visit, a community leader on Thursday said that PM Modi will speak on the role of the diaspora in India’s development during his address to Indian Americans next week, PTI reported.
The Prime Minister is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.
During his state visit, Modi will also address a Joint Session of the US Congress on June 22.
Chicago-based Bharat Barai, who was at the Ronald Reagan Building venue in Washington DC on Wednesday to give final shape to the next week’s event, said that it is a sold-out event, with registration completed for all 838 seats.
“As far as the registrations are concerned, they are closed for the host committee as well as other people. We had an extraordinary response, all by word of mouth because we had only 838 seats. So there was no time and there was no capacity if we advertised outside," Barai told PTI.
He further stated, "We used the database that we had from the previous public meetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and even before we could contact the people, they contacted us and it's all filled up."
Modi will address an invitation-only gathering of diaspora leaders from across the country at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on June 23.
“The topic is going to be the role of the diaspora in the growth story of India. We want to see what we can do as a diaspora to help India and the people of India come up to the new place in the world,” Barai said.
Noting that the event will have very few cultural elements, he said the organisers want to make it primarily an engagement between the diaspora and the prime minister.
“The diaspora is very much excited about having such a visionary and working person who has propelled India to the fifth largest economy in the world. Not only that, he has elevated India's reputation,” he said.
Thanking US President Joe Biden for inviting Modi on an official state visit, Amitabh Mittal from Chicago said, "He is the man of the action. He has transformed India. India has been waiting for someone like him to come and take charge."
Mittal hoped the prime minister would make an announcement on the Hindu Heritage Month in October.
“We have received his letter twice already in the last two years. But since he's here on the ground, I would love for him to mention that October is celebrated as the Hindu Heritage Month. Not only in America, but Canada, Australia, New Zealand and six other countries have joined in, and we have 30 proclamations already,” Mittal added.