Thousands from Indian American Diaspora Register for PM Modi's New York Event on Sep 22nd

More than 24,000 Indian-Americans have registered to attend a massive community event in New York, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the diaspora on September 22. The gathering, titled "Modi & US: Progress Together," will be held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, a venue with a seating capacity of 15,000. Despite the venue limitations, enthusiasm among the Indian-American community has far surpassed expectations, with registrations flooding in from across the United States through 590 community organizations, known as "Welcome Partners."

This event marks Modi’s return to addressing the Indian-American community in New York, ten years after his iconic 2014 speech at Madison Square Garden, which took place just months after he assumed office as Prime Minister. That event set the stage for a deepening relationship between Modi’s government and the Indian diaspora in the US. Now, as Modi prepares to speak again in New York, organizers are striving to accommodate the overwhelming interest, with plans to adjust seating arrangements and work with Welcome Partners to ensure that as many attendees as possible can be included.

The "Modi & US" event is designed to celebrate the diversity and success of the Indian-American community. Attendees will span a wide array of religious and linguistic backgrounds, including Jewish, Zoroastrian, Christian, Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu communities, alongside speakers of Hindi, Telugu, Punjabi, Tamil, and more. In addition to Modi's speech, the event will feature cultural performances and appearances by prominent Indian-American figures in business, science, and the arts, underscoring the community’s contributions to both India and the United States.

The Indo-American Community of USA (IACU), the event's organizer, has emphasized the importance of the event in reinforcing the close ties between the Indian government and the Indian diaspora in the US. A spokesperson for IACU stated, "We are committed to making this event as inclusive as possible. The response has been overwhelming, especially from the tri-state area, and we are working to accommodate everyone who wants to be a part of this historic moment."

Modi’s visit to New York comes ahead of the high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he is slated to speak on September 26. This will be Modi’s fifth address to the Indian diaspora in the US, following notable events such as the "Howdy Modi" rally in Houston in 2019, where he was joined by then-US President Donald Trump.

Modi's speech at the UN General Assembly, part of the 79th session of the high-level debate, will focus on global cooperation and the future of international diplomacy. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has convened this year’s session with a focus on adopting the Pact for the Future, an agreement aimed at enhancing global digital cooperation and safeguarding future generations. The Summit of the Future, scheduled for September 20-23, will bring world leaders together in New York to discuss solutions to pressing global challenges.

Prime Minister Modi's address to the Indian-American community carries added political significance, as it comes just weeks before the US presidential election on November 5, in which Democratic nominee Kamala Harris will face off against Republican candidate Donald Trump. Modi's presence is seen as reinforcing the strong connections between the Indian diaspora and the Indian government, as well as highlighting India's growing global influence under his leadership.

As preparations ramp up for the Modi & US event, organizers are optimistic that the event will serve as a celebration of the deep ties between India and the Indian-American community. It also marks another milestone in Modi’s efforts to engage with the Indian diaspora on the world stage, continuing a tradition that has become a hallmark of his leadership.