Houston, US: On the first day of his US visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Indian diaspora on Sunday including two minority groups and one community linked to Jammu and Kashmir - a province that saw actions vis-a-vis bifurcation and abrogation of the special Article 370.
“I had a special interaction with Kashmiri Pandits in Houston,” Mr Modi tweeted.
The Kasmiri Pandit community “unequivocally supported” Government of India’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the erstwhile development-starved and militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir.
“In Houston, a delegation of the Kashmiri Pandit community met the Prime Minister. They unequivocally supported the steps being taken for the progress of India and empowerment of every Indian, said the PMO in its tweet.
This is Prime Minister’s first visit to the US since August 5 when his government decided to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate J&K into Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh regions.
The backing of Kashmiri Pandit community vis-s-vis government actions in Jammu and Kashmir at international fora gives a large message about the province which once suffered immensely due to terrorism aided and abetted by Pakistani elements.
During interaction with the delegation including women, Prime Minister told them “.....you have suffered a lot together, now we have to build a new Kashmir”.
Prime Minister Modi was also felicitated by delegations of Dawoodi Bohra community and the Sikh community here on the very first day of his seven-day trip to the US.
The Prime Minister met the Dawoodi Bohra community which recalled Mr Modi’s visit to Indore last year to attend a programme.
“The Dawoodi Bohra community felicitates PM Narendra Modi in Houston. They recall PM Modi’s visit to Indore last year to attend a programme of their community as well as highlight PM Modi’s association with Syedna Sahib,” according to a PMO missive.
In his tweet, Mr Modi wrote - “The Dawoodi Bohra community has distinguished itself across the world. In Houston, I had the opportunity to spend time with them and speak about a wide range of issues”.
The Dawoodi Bohras are a sect within the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam and live abundantly in Gujarat.
Large populations of Dawoodi Bohras also reside in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa and the Middle East.
There are also significant numbers living in Europe, North America, South East Asia and Australia.
On his interaction with a Sikh delegation, he said: “I had an excellent interaction with the Sikh Community in Houston. I am delighted to see their passion towards India’s development”.
A Sikh delegation leader described Mr Modi as “our tiger” and went onto remark - “He is a man who we call Iron Man”.
The delegation wanted quick actions for opening Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as well. (UNI)