New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today returned to India after concluding his three-day official visit to the United States. During his visit, the prime minister attended the Quad leaders’ summit and the UN General Assembly session. He also addressed the Indian diaspora at an event in New York and held multiple bilateral meetings with several heads of states. The prime minister also spoke at the ‘Summit of the Future’, organised by the United Nations.

PM Modi began his visit from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, where his flight – Air India One – landed. He was welcome by a thousands of Indian-Americans who had gathered at the airport to greet him. From there, the prime minister went to Wilmington in Delaware, which is US President Joe Biden’s home city and state.

President Biden hosted the Quad leaders for the annual summit in his home city. 2024 was India’s turn to host the Quad Summit, but on a request by Washington DC, New Delhi agreed to host it next year.

PM Narendra Modi was greeted by hundreds of Indians who had gathered at the airport in Philadelphia. (PTI Photo)

JOE BIDEN HOSTS PM MODI AT HOME

President Biden hosted PM Modi at his home in Greenville, Delaware where the two leaders held bilateral talks to further strength the India-US strategic partnership. President Biden welcomed PM Modi on his arrival with a hug. He then help PM Modi’s hand and led him into his house.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to United States President Joe Biden for his warm hospitality. “Yesterday, President Biden took me to his home in Delaware, and his warmth and hospitality touched my heart. This honour belongs to 1.4 billion Indians, it’s your honour, your achievement, and the honour of the millions of Indians living here. I express my gratitude to President Biden and to all of you,” PM Modi said a day after meeting President Biden.

PM Modi gifted an antique silver hand-engraved train model to Joe Biden. The train model was customised by inscribing “DELHI-DELAWARE” on the sides of the main carriage and “INDIAN RAILWAYS” on the sides of the engine in English and Hindi based on the standard format used on passenger trains in India. Crafted by artisans from Maharashtra, which is renowned for its rich heritage in silver craftsmanship, the model is made of 92.5% silver

PM Modi also gifted a Kashmiri pashmina shawl to First Lady Jill Biden.

After the meeting, Mr Biden took to social media website X and said the United States’ partnership with India is “stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history”, adding that “Prime Minister Modi, each time we sit down, I’m struck by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Today was no different.”

INDIA-US BILATERAL MEETING

INDIA’s GLOBAL ROLE

During the bilateral meeting, President Biden expressed appreciation for India’s leadership on the world stage, particularly Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in the G20 and the Global South, a White House statement said. The US President also praised the Prime Minister’s commitment to strengthen the Quad to ensure a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

“India is at the forefront of efforts to seek solutions to the most pressing challenges, from supporting the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic to addressing the devastating consequences of conflicts around the world,” the White House said.

President Biden, it said, commended Prime Minister Modi for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in decades, and his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine. The statement was silent on the Prime Minister’s visit to Russia.

SEMICONDUCTOR PUSH

The White House has said that the two leaders cheered the success of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in deepening and expanding strategic cooperation across key technology sectors, including space, semiconductors, and advanced telecommunications.

SPACE COOPERATION

In the space technology sector, the two leaders welcomed the progress towards the first joint effort by NASA and ISRO to conduct scientific research onboard the International Space Station in 2025.

DRONE DEAL, DEFENCE PACTS

The US president welcomed the progress in India completing the procurement of 31 General Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) remotely piloted aircraft and their associated equipment, the White House said, adding that these will enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of India’s armed forces.

The two leaders recognised the progress under the US-India Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems. Prime Minister Modi and President Biden also welcomed efforts to expand defence industrial partnerships.

CLEAN ENERGY

PM Modi and President Biden welcomed the joint efforts to accelerate the expansion of safe and secure clean energy supply chains through US and Indian manufacturing of clean energy technologies and components.

“In its initial phase, the U.S. and India would work together to unlock $1 billion of multilateral financing to support projects across the clean energy value chain for renewable energy, energy storage, power grid and transmission technologies, high efficiency cooling systems, zero emission vehicles, and other emerging clean technologies,” the White House said.

The two leaders welcomed the India-US collaboration on a new National Center for Hydrogen Safety in India and affirmed their intent to utilise the new Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) to enhance collaboration on clean energy manufacturing and global supply chains.

GLOBAL HEALTHCARE

The two leaders celebrated the new US-India Drug Policy Framework, which will deepen the collaboration to disrupt the illicit production and international trafficking of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, and deepen a holistic public health partnership.

“The Leaders applauded the first-ever U.S.-India Cancer Dialogue held in August 2024, which brought together experts from both countries to increase research and development to accelerate the rate of progress against cancer,” the White House said.

THE 2024 QUAD LEADERS’ SUMMIT

During his opening remarks at the Quad Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific is the shared priority and commitment of the Quad countries. US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and Japan PM Fumio Kishida were present at the meeting.

PM Modi pointed out the Quad summit is being held at a time when the world is surrounded by tensions and conflicts. “At such a time, it is important for all of humanity that the members of the Quad move forward based on shared democratic values. We are not against anybody. All of us support rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of all disputes,” he said.

To strengthen the fight against cervical cancer, India pledged a grant of USD 7.5 million to the testing, screening, and diagnosis of the disease in the Indo-Pacific region. Addressing the Cancer Moonshot event on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders’ Summit, PM Modi said the initiative would go a long way in providing affordable, accessible and quality health care to people in Indo-Pacific countries.

“India is ready to share its experience and expertise,” PM Modi said, asserting that the grant was made under India’s vision of ‘One Earth, One Heath’.

The 2024 Quad Summit was the farewell summit for Joe Biden, who is not seeking re-election as President. It was also the final summit for Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, whose term as prime minister will end this year.

After the summit, when asked by reporters if the Quad will survive beyond November 2024, President Biden gestured by keeping his hand on PM Modi’s shoulder and said “long beyond 2024” – a post of which went viral on social media.

KEY BILATERAL MEETINGS

During his US visit, PM Modi engaged with several world leaders and held multiple bilateral meetings.

Apart from his bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held bilateral talks with Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida. These bilateral meetings were held in Delaware on the sidelines of the Quad Summit.

PM Modi held several other bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. These meetings included bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas; His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, and President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

ROUNDTABLE MEET WITH TOP TECH CEOs

While in New York, Prime Minister Modi held a roundtable meeting with the top American CEOs from the technology field. The meeting focused on innovation, collaboration, and India’s growing tech space. It was held at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel.

Hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, the roundtable saw participation from leaders of companies specialising in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology.

The roundtable was attended by prominent CEOs like Google’s Sundar Pichai Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Adobe Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen, Lisa Su – Chair and CEO of AMD; and Noubar Afeyan – Chairman, Moderna.

Speaking about Artificial Intelligence or AI, the prime minister stressed that India’s policy is to promote ‘AI for All’, underpinned by its ethical and responsible use.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said, “Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation, and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India.”

UNITED NATIONS’ ‘SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE’

On the third-and-final day of his US visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The theme of the Summit was ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’.

During his speech at the forum, PM Modi said, “Alongside terrorism, new areas of conflict are emerging and it is high time that “global action must match global ambition.”

Pointing out that terrorism continues to be a serious threat to global peace and security, PM Modi said on the other hand, “cyber, maritime and space are emerging as new areas of conflict”

Talking of growing global concern over dangers from new and evolving technologies, especially artificial intelligence, PM Modi said, “There is a need for balanced regulation at a global level, for the safe and responsible use of technology.”

Expanding on his earlier statement that “this is not a time for war”, PM Modi said, “When we are discussing the global future, we must accord the highest priority to a human-centric approach while prioritising sustainable development,” adding that “We must also ensure human welfare, food and health security.” He also declared that India was ready to share her experience in poverty eradication and bridging the digital divide.

In his closing remarks, PM Modi said that, “The success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not in the battlefield and for world peace and development, reform is essential for global organisations”.

‘MODI AND US’ – THE MEGA DIASPORA EVENT

Besides his official engagements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the Indian diaspora in the United States at a mega event organised at the Nassau Coliseum Arena in New York’s Long Island.

Tens of thousands of Indians gathered at the stadium. A packed house cheered on Prime Minister Modi as he took the stage to address Indian-Americans. The prime minister called them the “brand ambassadors” of India and thanked them for being the bridge between India and the United States. He credited people of Indian origin for their cultural and work ethos and for being rule-abiding citizens, saying it is primarily because of them that India gets the respect and recognition in the United States.

Calling India the new “land of opportunity”, the prime minister spoke about the achievements in India in recent years, informing the Indian community about the progress made by India in several industries as well as the development in social infrastructure.

Before ending his speech, the Prime Minister announced two more consulates that will soon open in the US – in Boston and Los Angeles.

Upon his return, the Prime Minister’s US visit was praised by all the allies in the NDA government – from Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha.
 

New York:

As part of his engagements on the Day 2 of his three-day US visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a host of industry leaders, ranging from semiconductors to electronics to biotechnology, where they discussed the potential and opportunities India has to offer.

Among those who took part at the CEO roundtable were Chairman President and CEO Adobe Shantanu Narayen; CEO Google Sundar Pichai; CEO IBM Arvind Krishna; Lisa Su-Chair and CEO AMD; Noubar Afeyan-Chairman Moderna.

With the CEOs of leading US-based companies, Prime Minister Modi was to discuss fostering greater collaborations between the two countries in the cutting-edge areas of AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology.

During the India US bilateral meeting on Saturday, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains including through GlobalFoundries’ (GF) creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata, India that will enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing.

According to a joint fact sheet released by the White House, the leaders welcomed new private sector cooperation on emerging technologies, such as through IBM’s recent conclusion of memoranda of understanding with the Indian government, which will enable IBM’s Watsonx platform on India’s Airawat supercomputer and drive new AI innovation opportunities, enhance R&D collaboration on advanced semiconductor processors, and increase support for India’s National Quantum Mission.

Both the leaders welcomed progress since the November 2023 signing of an MoU between the Commerce Department and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enhance the two countries’ innovation ecosystems under the “Innovation Handshake” agenda.

Since then, the two sides have convened two industry roundtables in the US and India to bring together startups, private equity and venture capital firms, corporate investment departments, and government officials to forge connections and to accelerate investment in innovation.

While in New York, Prime Minister Modi on Sunday also addressed a huge gathering of the Indian community who converged in thousands from various parts of the country.

On Day 1, Saturday, Prime Minister Modi took part in the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, which is being hosted by US President Joe Biden. Following the request of the US side to host the Quad Summit this year, India has agreed to host the next Quad Summit in 2025. The forum has emerged as a key group of the like-minded countries to work for peace, progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

On Day 3, Monday, Prime Minister Modi will address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, before he departs for India. The theme of the Summit is ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’.

A large number of global leaders are expected to participate in the Summit. On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Minister would be holding bilateral meetings with several world leaders and discuss issues of mutual interest.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New York:

As part of his engagements on the Day 2 of his three-day US visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a host of industry leaders, ranging from semiconductors to electronics to biotechnology, where they discussed the potential and opportunities India has to offer.

Among those who took part at the CEO roundtable were Chairman President and CEO Adobe Shantanu Narayen; CEO Google Sundar Pichai; CEO IBM Arvind Krishna; Lisa Su-Chair and CEO AMD; Noubar Afeyan-Chairman Moderna.

Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India. pic.twitter.com/qW3sZ4fv3t

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2024

“Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India,” said PM Modi in an online post.

During the India US bilateral meeting on Saturday, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains including through GlobalFoundries’ (GF) creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata, India that will enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing.

According to a joint fact sheet released by the White House, the leaders welcomed new private sector cooperation on emerging technologies, such as through IBM’s recent conclusion of memoranda of understanding with the Indian government, which will enable IBM’s Watsonx platform on India’s Airawat supercomputer and drive new AI innovation opportunities, enhance R&D collaboration on advanced semiconductor processors, and increase support for India’s National Quantum Mission.

Both the leaders welcomed progress since the November 2023 signing of an MoU between the Commerce Department and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enhance the two countries’ innovation ecosystems under the “Innovation Handshake” agenda.

Since then, the two sides have convened two industry roundtables in the US and India to bring together startups, private equity and venture capital firms, corporate investment departments, and government officials to forge connections and to accelerate investment in innovation.

While in New York, Prime Minister Modi on Sunday also addressed a huge gathering of the Indian community who converged in thousands from various parts of the country.

On Day 1, Saturday, Prime Minister Modi took part in the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, which is being hosted by US President Joe Biden. Following the request of the US side to host the Quad Summit this year, India has agreed to host the next Quad Summit in 2025. The forum has emerged as a key group of the like-minded countries to work for peace, progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

On Day 3, Monday, Prime Minister Modi will address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, before he departs for India. The theme of the Summit is ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’.

A large number of global leaders are expected to participate in the Summit. On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Minister would be holding bilateral meetings with several world leaders and discuss issues of mutual interest.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New York:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted the growing stature of India at the global platform and said that “the world listens when India speaks.”

Addressing the Indian diaspora in New York, PM Modi said, “We are also a strong voice of the Global South. Today, when India says something on a global platform, the world listens. Some time ago when I said that this is not the era of war, its severity was understood by all…”

This vision was recently exemplified through the Voice of Global South Summit, hosted by India in January 2023. The summit, themed “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose,” brought together leaders from the Global South to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. By providing a platform for these nations to unite and speak with one voice, India demonstrated its commitment to fostering cooperation and driving positive change.

He said that for India, power and potency means – “knowledge is for sharing, wealth is for caring, power is for protecting.”

By hosting the Voice of Global South Summit and promoting unity among developing nations, India has reaffirmed its position as a key player on the global stage. As PM Modi emphasised, when India speaks, the world listens – a testament to India’s increasing influence and leadership in shaping a more equitable and prosperous world.

PM Modi said that now India does not lag behind, it creates new systems and leads. India has given the new concept of digital public infrastructure (DPI) to the world.

“Today our partnership is growing with the whole world. Earlier, India followed the policy of equidistance. Today, India follows the policy of equidistance. Today, India’s 5G market has become bigger than America, and this has happened in just two years. Now India is working on ‘Made in India’ 6G,” said PM Modi.

He said that now India is a land of opportunities. “Now, India doesn’t wait for the opportunities, it creates them,” the PM asserted.

Speaking about the sea changes brought in last decade regarding opportunities and bringing 25 crore people out of poverty, PM Modi said, “In the last ten years, India has created opportunities for new launching pads in every sector. In just a decade, 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty. This was possible because we changed the old thoughts and approach. We focussed on empowering the poor. We connected more than 50 crores with the banking system…”

“In a decade, India has become the 5th largest economy from the 10th position. Now every Indian wants that India should soon become the 3rd largest economy. Today, India is a land of opportunities. Now India does not wait for opportunities, it creates opportunities,” PM Modi added.

Regarding the demographic dividend, the PM said, “Today, India is one of the youngest countries in the world. India is filled with energy and dreams. Every day, new records and news are being made. Today, India has won gold in the Chess Olympiad (Men and Women). This has happened for the first time in a century. Our entire country is proud of our chess players. We have AI driving India, and the other AI – Aspirational India – is a new force driving the growth of Indians.”

He also set goals for Modi 3.0, moving ahead with three times the power and strength asked the people remember the word ‘PUSHP’. P-Progressive Bharat, U-Unstoppable Bharat, S-Spiritual Bharat, H-Bharat committed to Humanity and P-Prosperous Bharat

“We will build Viksit Bharat, combining the five petals of PUSHP,” added PM Modi.

Regarding the conflict ongoing around the world, the PM said, “This 2024 is crucial for the entire world. On one hand, there is conflict and tension among some countries. In some countries, however, there is a celebration of democracy.”

He further said that India’s priority is not to increase its pressence in the world but to increase its impact.

‘”Hum aaag ki tarah jalaane waale nahin, Suraj ki kiran ki tarah roshani dene waale hain’. We don’t want our supremacy in the world, but to increase cooperation in the prosperity of the world,” said PM Modi

The Prime Minister said that India and America are together in this celebration of democracy.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New York:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted the growing stature of India at the global platform and said that “the world listens when India speaks.”

Addressing the Indian diaspora in New York, PM Modi said, “We are also a strong voice of the Global South. Today, when India says something on a global platform, the world listens. Some time ago when I said that this is not the era of war, its severity was understood by all…”

This vision was recently exemplified through the Voice of Global South Summit, hosted by India in January 2023. The summit, themed “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose,” brought together leaders from the Global South to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. By providing a platform for these nations to unite and speak with one voice, India demonstrated its commitment to fostering cooperation and driving positive change.

He said that for India, power and potency means – “knowledge is for sharing, wealth is for caring, power is for protecting.”

By hosting the Voice of Global South Summit and promoting unity among developing nations, India has reaffirmed its position as a key player on the global stage. As PM Modi emphasised, when India speaks, the world listens – a testament to India’s increasing influence and leadership in shaping a more equitable and prosperous world.

PM Modi said that now India does not lag behind, it creates new systems and leads. India has given the new concept of digital public infrastructure (DPI) to the world.

“Today our partnership is growing with the whole world. Earlier, India followed the policy of equidistance. Today, India follows the policy of equidistance. Today, India’s 5G market has become bigger than America, and this has happened in just two years. Now India is working on ‘Made in India’ 6G,” said PM Modi.

He said that now India is a land of opportunities. “Now, India doesn’t wait for the opportunities, it creates them,” the PM asserted.

Speaking about the sea changes brought in last decade regarding opportunities and bringing 25 crore people out of poverty, PM Modi said, “In the last ten years, India has created opportunities for new launching pads in every sector. In just a decade, 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty. This was possible because we changed the old thoughts and approach. We focussed on empowering the poor. We connected more than 50 crores with the banking system…”

“In a decade, India has become the 5th largest economy from the 10th position. Now every Indian wants that India should soon become the 3rd largest economy. Today, India is a land of opportunities. Now India does not wait for opportunities, it creates opportunities,” PM Modi added.

Regarding the demographic dividend, the PM said, “Today, India is one of the youngest countries in the world. India is filled with energy and dreams. Every day, new records and news are being made. Today, India has won gold in the Chess Olympiad (Men and Women). This has happened for the first time in a century. Our entire country is proud of our chess players. We have AI driving India, and the other AI – Aspirational India – is a new force driving the growth of Indians.”

He also set goals for Modi 3.0, moving ahead with three times the power and strength asked the people remember the word ‘PUSHP’. P-Progressive Bharat, U-Unstoppable Bharat, S-Spiritual Bharat, H-Bharat committed to Humanity and P-Prosperous Bharat

“We will build Viksit Bharat, combining the five petals of PUSHP,” added PM Modi.

Regarding the conflict ongoing around the world, the PM said, “This 2024 is crucial for the entire world. On one hand, there is conflict and tension among some countries. In some countries, however, there is a celebration of democracy.”

He further said that India’s priority is not to increase its pressence in the world but to increase its impact.

‘”Hum aaag ki tarah jalaane waale nahin, Suraj ki kiran ki tarah roshani dene waale hain’. We don’t want our supremacy in the world, but to increase cooperation in the prosperity of the world,” said PM Modi

The Prime Minister said that India and America are together in this celebration of democracy.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New York:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he has set very ambitious goals in his third term to make the country a developed nation and asserted that India today is a land of opportunities.

“After going through this tough election process, this long election system, something unprecedented happened in India (this year). What happened… “Abkibaar Modi Sarkaar,” PM Modi said in his address to thousands of Indian Americans in New York.

“For the first time in 60 years, the people of India have given a mandate which has great significance. During my third term, I have very ambitious goals to achieve. We have to move forward with three times the strength,” he said.

PM Modi said he has dedicated his life for good governance and for a prosperous India. Observing that destiny brought him to politics, he said he had never thought of becoming a chief minister or prime minister. Over the last 10 years, people have seen this model of governance and thus have voted him to power for a third term, he added.

The prime minister was addressing a packed Nassau Veterans Coliseum with more than 13,000 Indian Americans. While the majority of them were from the New York and New Jersey area, Indian Americans came in from 40 States, organisers said. Sixty charter buses were used for transportation purposes.

Applauding the role of Indian Americans in strengthening the relationship between India and the US, he called them as India’s brand ambassadors. Referring to a Sanskrit shloka that “it is those who make sacrifices reap benefits”, the prime minister said wherever the Indian diaspora lives, they contribute to the societal and national development in every field.

In his remarks, the prime minister touched upon the celebration of democracy across the world, in particular in India and the US.

“While the elections in India are over, it’s under process in the United States. The elections that were just held in India were the biggest elections so far in human history. When we see the scale of India’s democracy, we are even more proud,” he said.

PM Modi applauded the role of Indian Americans in making the country and community proud.

“Just yesterday, President Biden took me to his home in Delaware. His affection, his warmth, it was a moment that touched my heart. This respect is for the 140 billion Indians. This respect is for you, for your achievements, for the hundreds and thousands of Indians living here,” he said and called Indian Americans as India’s brand ambassador.

He also referred to the recently concluded T-20 World Cup in the United States.

India, he said, is now aspiring to be the third largest economy of the world from the fifth position. “Today, people of India, he said, are full of self-confidence, they have resolve and determination to achieve their goal,” he said, adding development in India has now become a people’s movement.

“Every Indian has confidence in India, its achievements. India today is a land of opportunities. It’s no longer waiting for opportunities. It is now creating opportunities,” he said, adding that in just a decade 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty.

“This was possible because we changed our old way of thinking. We changed our approach. We empowered the poor,” he told the Indian Americans. It is this new middle class, which is accelerating the development of India, he said.

An entertaining cultural performance was the main highlight of the event before the prime minister arrived. The Echoes of India – A Journey Through Art and Tradition, showcased 382 nationally and internationally known artists. Prominent among them including Grammy award nominee Chandrika Tandon, STAR Voice of India winner and superstar Aishwarya Majumdar, Instagram’s Dancing Dad Ricky Pond, and singing sensation Rex DSouuza, in a seamless experience of India’s cultural diversity.

There were unique performances by 117 artists, impressing and entertaining attendees as they enter the coliseum. Organisers said more than 30 classical, folk, modern and fusion performances will pay homage to the rich and diverse cultures of India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New York:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed tens of thousands of Indian-Americans in a grand community event at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island. The chants of “Modi, Modi” filled the stadium as the prime minister walked on stage to address people of Indian origin.

The Prime Minister started his speech with the chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai!”. He began by saying that even the ‘Namaste’ has gone from being local to global, and credited the Indians settled overseas for it.

A series of cultural performances entertained the people gathered at the stadium, who were enthused as they waited for the Prime Minister’s arrival.

During his speech, Prime Minister fondly recalled his previous community events in the United States – 2014 at the Madison Square Garden, 2016 in San Jose, California, 2018 in Houston, Texas, 2023 in Washington and now in Long Island.

He credited the Indians settled in the United States. He said that they have been the bridge between the two nations and have helped strengthen the India-US relationship. He said “you all have come seven seas apart, but nothing can ever take the love of India away from your hearts and souls.”

He said that people from different parts of India may have settled overseas – here in the US too and have become US citizens, but “the sentiment that brings us all together is, ‘Bharat Mata ki…(Jai! chanted the spectators)’.”

“This sentiment is what keeps us united, and this is our biggest strength, no matter where we go in the world,” he said, adding that “It is this sentiment that helps us be peaceful, law abiding global citizens – what makes India proud of its children – and makes the world realise that India is the world’s ‘Vishwa-Bandhu’.”

Calling the Indians settled in the United States ‘Rashtradoot’ (Ambassadors), the prime minister thanked the Indian community in the United States for the respect India has earned in that country, adding that “It is our Indian values and culture that makes us One.”
 

Washington:

The White House today met with a group of Sikhs who are sympathisers for the Khalistan movement hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to land in the United States for a three-day official visit. The White House assured them “protection from any transnational aggression on its soil”.

The White House said it is committed to “protecting American Citizens” from harm while they are within the borders of the United States.

This development comes amid concerns that Canada and the US are giving shelter and asylum to Khalistani separatists.

Groups aligned to the Khalistan separatist movement are banned in India and several of these organisations have carried out terrorist activities in the last few decades.

While the US has not made any official comment on “giving shelter” to such elements, Canada had called it their “freedom of speech”.

In response, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said, “India respects and practices freedom of speech, but freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom to support separatism. It does not equate with freedom to threaten foreign diplomats or allow political space to elements advocating violence.”

“In any rule-based society, you would imagine that you would check people’s background, how they came, what passports they carried etc,” he had said.

“If you have people whose presence there was itself on very dubious documents, what does it say about you? It actually says that your vote-bank actually is more powerful than your rule of law,” Mr Jaishankar had said.

THE WHITE HOUSE MEETING

The meeting at White House took place hours before PM Modi was to land in the US to attend the Quad summit in Delaware and to address the ‘Summit of the Future’ event at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The meeting was held within the official White House complex and was attended by Pritpal Singh of the American Sikh Caucus Committee and representatives from the Sikh Coalition and Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF).

“Yesterday we had the chance to thank senior federal government officials for saving the lives of Sikh Americans and for vigilance in protecting our community. We asked them to do more, and we will hold them to their assurances that they will,” Pritpal Singh, founder of the American Sikh Caucus Committee told Press Trust of India.

In a social media post on X, Pritpal Singh thanked the US officials for their vigilance in protecting Sikh Americans.”

“We will hold them to their assurances to do more to safeguard our community. Freedom and justice must prevail,” he said.

This is the first time that the US National Security Council has held a meeting with Sikh separatists. No other details of the meeting are available yet.

What comes as a surprise is that the meeting was initiated by the White House.

US BRINGS NEW BILL

Earlier this week, US Congressman Adam Schiff introduced the ‘Transnational Repression Reporting Act 2024’ which requires the Attorney General, in coordination with other relevant federal agencies, to report cases of transnational repression against people in the United States.

“Through this bill, Congress sends a strong message to both allies and adversaries that violating the constitutional rights of Americans will not be tolerated,” Sikh group SALDEF which has openly supported Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and has blamed India for his killing.

LAWSUIT AGAINST INDIA AND NSA AJIT DOVAL

This week Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is taking shelter in the United States, had also filed a civil lawsuit against the Government of India and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval after which the US District Court for the Southern District of New York issued summons in the case.

The summons names Government of India, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, former R&AW chief Samant Goel, R&AW agent Vikram Yadav, and an Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who has been charged by federal prosecutors in an indictment unsealed in November 2023 for allegedly “working with an Indian government employee” in the foiled plot to kill terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The summons sought a reply within 21 days.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has called it a “completely unwarranted case”, adding that “I invite your attention to the person who filed this.” He further said that Pannun’s “antecedent is well-known” and that he is from an unlawful organisation.

Pannun heads the radical Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and is known to put out incendiary speeches and threats against Indian leaders and institutions. New Delhi designated him a terrorist in 2020.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has told NDTV that this matter will not affect India-US ties.

WHO IS GURPATWANT SINGH PANNUN

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a designated Khalistani terrorist. He was born and raised in Khankot village on the outskirts of Amritsar.

Pannun has claimed responsibility for several terror incidents in India. In April 2023, in a video shared on social media, he openly threatened to harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Assam.

He founded the Khalistan separatist group SFJ in 2007. India banned the SFJ in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA for its anti-India activities. In 2020, Pannun was designated a terrorist.

Pannun holds a dual citizenship of the United States as well as Canada and is currently in the US. His banned separatist organisation operates out of New York.
 

New York:

With just six years left to meet the deadline for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world is not on track to meet those targets.

The COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts and growing climate chaos have severely hindered progress.

To get back on track, the world needs massive investment in sustainable development, as well as accelerated action in several critical areas, including climate change, peace and security, and inequalities among and between countries, as the recent Sustainable Development Report 2024 found.

To address these acute challenges, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a Summit of the Future at the United Nations in New York on September 22-23.

With the theme “Multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow”, the summit will bring together UN member states and agencies, academic institutions, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, the private sector and young people.

Humanity is facing a set of unprecedented challenges that can only be solved through global cooperation, also known as multilateralism. During the summit, attendees will collectively forge a new global consensus on what our future should look like – and what we can do today to secure it.

The summit will focus on five core areas: sustainable development and financing; international peace and security; fostering digital cooperation and the control of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence; the empowerment of young people and future generations; and reform of the UN architecture.

Within sustainable development, the core challenge is securing global financing. After all, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require sizeable public investment.

With low-income and lower-middle-income countries, in particular, lacking the access to financing they need to achieve those goals, the global system will need to work out a way to provide access to long-term, low-cost financing to these countries.

To achieve global peace, one of the core challenges today is great-power competition, including between the US, Russia and China. The world will need to move toward a UN-led system in which this great-power competition is governed and restrained by the UN Charter rather than by militarism and power politics.

To support this goal, countries must be truly committed to global cooperation – and a new index on UN-based multilateralism could play a part in monitoring just how committed to that goal UN member states are.

For digital cooperation and new technologies, the main challenge is to ensure that they are transparently and responsibly governed.

For youth and future generations, high-quality education plays an essential role in their empowerment and progress. The world will need to work toward a new global financial arrangement to ensure that every child, even in the poorest countries, is given the opportunity for a decent education.

All of these objectives cannot be achieved without reform of the UN system, ensuring that more power is given to UN institutions and ensuring that they are more representative. To make the UN as representative as possible, boosting diverse representation, including women’s representation, at leadership levels is essential.

Furthermore, approaching decarbonisation and other sustainability efforts with a gender lens and boosting women’s representation in this area is critical for making progress on all of the above challenges.

Published to coincide with the UN’s Summit of the Future, this special report, a collaboration between 360info and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), tables solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.

(Authors: Alyson Marks, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and 360info editorial team)

Disclaimer: Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)