As Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in New York to attend the Summit of the Future (SOTF), he was greeted with a wave of enthusiasm and warmth from the Indian diaspora. The members of the community, eagerly waiting at Hotel Lotte Palace, made their presence known with vibrant Indian flags and heartfelt chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. The atmosphere was electric, reflecting their deep respect and admiration for the Prime Minister.
One member of the Indian diaspora, expressing the collective sentiment, said, “We are here to welcome our PM Narendra Modi. We are very excited to meet & greet him personally.” Another woman, holding a handmade portrait, said, “I have specially come from India to welcome PM Modi. This is a handmade portrait made by a Type 1 diabetes child, thanking PM Modi for the insulin that is being provided to him.” Her gesture highlighted the direct impact of Modi’s policies on the lives of Indian citizens. Yet another individual expressed their fervor, stating, “It is difficult to find a leader like PM Modi. We came to meet him. We are going to his event tomorrow as well, we are very excited.”
The Prime Minister’s visit is packed with key engagements. During his stay, he will chair important bilateral meetings in New York. In a post, Randhir Jaiswal, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said, “PM Narendra Modi arrives in New York, the second leg of his 3 day visit to the USA. PM will address the UN Summit of the Future, interact with the community and attend other programs.”
Earlier in the week, PM Modi had participated in the Quad Leaders’ Summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. The summit, the sixth in the series, was a significant diplomatic event bringing together the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. Notably, this was the ‘farewell’ summit for both President Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who are stepping down from their respective offices. The Quad, a diplomatic partnership between the four nations, has emerged as a crucial force in promoting regional stability and shared interests.
