Narendra Modi’s Madison Square Garden reception, speech
September 28, 2014
Modi leaving Madison Square Garden after the speech.
The speech is over, and the prime minister is leaving the podium.
Grand announcement: “all PIO card holders to get lifetime visa, they will not have to report at police stations in India anymore, if on an extended visit to India. All PIO and OCI cards to be merged.” Huge applause.
Long term visas for Americans and visa on arrival for them soon.
“Gandhi also lived abroad; he came back to India in 1915, next year marks 100th year of that visit.”
“I have a vision, in 2022, on India’s 75 anniversary, I have a dream and vision to have housing for all.
“Gandhi gave us independence… So on the 150th year of Gandhi’s birth anniversary, in 2019, we want to give a clean India for him.”
Crowd on their feet when he says he became the prime minister by selling tea, will work for small people. He says he thinks of doing big things for small people – by building more toilets in India. He has been saying this everywhere, at the UN and a meet at the Central Park on Saturday. Got him a huge response every time.
Modi talks at length of India’s youth, of Mars mission, and says India’s youth will rule the world.
Modi pays tribute to Bhagat Singh; talks of Sikhs serving in the army; loud chants of “Sat Sri Akal.”
The English translations on giant screen is not great. Modi says now all Indians in America feel they should keep one foot in India. Translation: all Indians want to stay in Gujarat, in India.”
Now another quip, to loud applause: “since I took over the responsibility of PM, I have not taken vacation for 15 minutes. Some of the Democrats in crowd must be squirming think of the number of vacations Obama has taken. Was that an intentional dig at Obama?”
Modi’s best quip so far: “ our ancestors played with snakes but now India plays with a mouse when asked in China years ago if India was still a country of snake charmers.
Modi has already met all the US elected officials in the morning.
Greets people on Navratri.
He starts his speech saying “Bharat mata ki” and crowd finishes it swing “JAI.”
Kavita Jrishnamurthy sings the Indian national anthem Modi sings along.
Now cries of “Bharat mata ki jai”
Surprise at maybe Modi request the US national anthem is being again
Deafening now!
Crescendo increases rock star Modi is here !
Chants of “Modi, Modi!” as all the legislators wait on stage for Modi to come to join for Indian national anthem. Everybody in crowd also standing.
Modi in the house — coming after Anjali World, daughter of Billionaire Vivek Ranadive sings US national anthem.
Loudest cheer for Gov. Nikki Haley. And for Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard.
Haley looks businesslike in a jacket and knee length skirt.
Congressmen being felicitated and loud chants of “USA, USA” ring out. Loud applause for Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Joe Crowley.
Loud boos from the crowd as emcee Hari Sreenivasan announces that Gov. Bobby Jindal could not be here but sends his best wishes.
When Prime Minister Modi walks in, these balloons in the colors of the India flag will descend from the ceiling.
A panoramic view of the crowd inside Madison Square Garden.
At the topmost tier on the 9th floor. MSG is the home of the Knicks. Their championship banners overlook the stage, where dancers in resplendent costumes make their moves to the song Malang from Dhoom 3. a.
Kavita Krishnamurthy, accompanied by L Shankar, renders songs.
A lovely looking Nina Davukuri introduces the artists rendering the cultural programs as in between performance chants of “Modi, Modi, Modi” render the air.
On giant screens, there is a flow of tweets from Indians inside and outside.
#Modi in America . Unity . Action Progress. Theme on the giant screens. Synchronizes with a laser show and images from Google Earth.
Inside there is huge excitement near the lower tier people where people suddenly get up and chant “Modi, Modi, Modi” as they think the PM has arrived.
-Modi is the leader of the world
