New Delhi: India-US relationship has certainly seen an upward trajectory in the past half decade. Ahead of the much-anticipated 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston, Texas, former diplomats discuss various strands of Indo-US relation.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, former diplomat JK Tripathi has said that Trump administration approached Indian counterpart their for the possibility of attending the event.
"Not just Trump, 60 other US lawmakers wanted to join the rally," Tripathi said highlighting intensity of ties between both the nations.
"This is the first time a sitting president of the US is attending a rally to be addressed by a foreign head of state," Tripathi added.
The Indo-US partnership has seen the strongest connection in the defense sector where trade deal between both countries is likely to reach $19 bn this year.
Meanwhile, claiming that although trade issues remain unsolved between the two countries, former diplomat Achal Malhotra said that US Congress members urging the administration to reinstate India's designation under the key GSP regime is a welcome step.
"Around 50,000 people have registered for the Howdy Modi event in Houston and this reflects the growing stature of Indian diaspora in the United States," Achal Malhotra said.
"By deciding to attend the event, President Trump has done a 'course correction,' in issues like Kashmir and has reiterated the stand that US stands with India on all bilateral issues with Pakistan," he added.
"Howdy", short for 'How do you do?', is a friendly greeting commonly used in the southwestern United States.
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said, "It (Modi-Trump joint rally) will be a great opportunity to emphasize the strong ties between the people of the United States and India, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world's oldest and largest democracies, and to discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship."
This would also be the first time that an American president would be addressing thousands of Indian-Americans at one place in the US.
The Houston event will be Modi's third major address to the Indian-American community after he became the prime minister in 2014 and the first after his re-election in May.
The previous two were at the Madison Square Garden in New York in 2014 and the Silicon Valley in 2016. Both the events were attended by more than 20,000 people.
The Howdy Modi event is being organised by non-profit Texas India Forum, a recently-formed representative body of hundreds of Indian American organisations in Texas and other parts of the US.
Read: Trump to join PM Modi at 'Howdy,Modi!'event in Houston
