United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday, 24 September, heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he was received by the members of the Indian community in Houston like Americans would welcome rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley.
"I remember India before... it was very torn. There was a lot of dissension, lot of fighting. And he brought it all together. Like a father would bring it together. Maybe he is the father of India. We would call him the father of India... I think he has done a fantastic job," said Trump, ahead of the bilateral meeting between the two leaders in New York.
“They love this gentleman to my right. People went crazy, he is like an American version of Elvis,” Trump said, referring to the ‘Howdy, Modi’ event.
The meeting between Trump and Modi came two days after they met on Sunday in Houston and shared the stage at the 'Howdy, Modi' event where they displayed close friendship and a common vision on fighting terrorism.
PM Modi praised Trump as "a good friend of India" and expressed his happiness over the US president joining him at the 'Howdy, Modi' rally.
“I am thankful to Trump that he came to Houston. He is my friend but he is also a good friend of India,” Modi said.
Modi presented a framed photograph from the 'Howdy, Modi' event to Trump, who thanked him for the gesture.
PM Modi, during the bilateral meeting said that India wanted "certain concrete steps" from Pakistan before resumption of talks during his meeting with Trump, who hoped that the two neighbours can "work out something" on the Kashmir issue.
Prime Minister Modi and President Trump met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York – their fourth meeting since Modi came to power for a second term in May this year.
Their 40-minute discussion mainly focussed on the bilateral trade and issues related to terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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