India Prime Minister’s U.S. visit brings him to New York and celebration of cultural ties
UNIONDALE, NY — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modiwho was continuing a multi-day visit to the United States, delivered a speech at a cultural celebration on Long Island on Sunday. He praised the return of nearly 300 antiques by the United States to India and delivered news of his country’s double victory at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, to a rapturous audience.
“I just got some very good news,” Modi told an estimated 13,000 people at the Nassau Veterans Coliseum for an event billed as a celebration of cultural ties between India and the United States. “In the Chess Olympiad“India has won gold medals in both the men’s and women’s events,” he said to applause in a speech translated into English for an online audience.
Modi was re-elected in June after a marathon election in which more than 640 million votes were cast in six weeks in the the world’s largest democratic exercise.
“This year, 2024, is a very important year for the entire world,” he said. “On one hand, there are conflicts between different countries in the world, there is tension. And on the other hand, democracy is being celebrated in different countries in the world. India and America are also together in this celebration of democracy.”
Modi’s appearance in New York came a day after he summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, for leaders of the so-called Quad, which also included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan.
Also Saturday, Modi accepted the return of 297 antiquities dating back thousands of years that had been stolen or traded from India. The U.S. has returned nearly 600 such cultural artifacts to India since 2016, according to India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Monday, the prime minister is expected to attend a United Nations summit ahead of the this week’s General Meeting.
Sunday’s event was sponsored by the non-profit organization Indo American Community of USA.