PM Modi to address US Congress for the second time, making history as the first Indian PM

Indian Americans are eagerly preparing to extend a warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will visit the United States from June 21 to June 24. Thousands of expatriate Indians will gather in Washington during his visit. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden invited PM Modi to the US. 

With this visit, PM Modi will become the first Indian PM to address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. This will serve as a reminder of the historic significance of the relationship between the US and India, according to a report published by ANI. 

A group of Indian Americans is planning to go to Andrews Air Force Base when the Prime Minister's Air India One lands on June 21 afternoon from New York. 

More than 600 community members are planning to gather at Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington located near the White House where the PM will be staying during his visit.

Speaking to ANI, Adapa Prasad, President of Overseas Friends of BJP-USA said, “At the Freedom Plaza, the community has planned to showcase the cultural fabric of India through cultural events representing India spanning from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from West to East.”

Prasad said that it is India's diverse cultural show and growth story. “The community has roughly 25 programs representing Kashmir to Kerala and Maharashtra to the northeast with 160 artists participating.”

“The Indian American community feels that they are part of this historic story. They're proud that this momentous occasion is happening. That too when India became the fifth largest economy and the third largest, so the community itself is very proud about their country of origin,” he added. 

Over 7,000 Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when President Biden the First Lady would welcome Prime Minister Modi amidst a 21-gun salute on June 22. 

"India was known as an underdeveloped country. All that has changed in the last ten years. Thanks a lot to Shri Modiji who has transformed India not only with the IT generation but by rising high above all the expectations of people in terms of infrastructure development, in terms of financial independence given to all the markets," said Premkumar Swaminathan who hails from Tamil Nadu in India.

Srilkeha Reddy Palle a resident of Virginia said, “I think it is crucial for us to understand kind of the importance of Modiji speaking on the stage. A lot of global leaders have spoken separately in the Union House of Representatives. They have spoken for state dinners and all of that. But, somebody addressing the state of the joint session is something very very unusual.”.

“I just want to express our gratitude to the Prime Minister for the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in Kashmir. And I'm sure together we will be working together with Modiji for resolving all the issues with regard to Kashmiri Hindus' resettlement safely back in Kashmir," Mohan Sapru, a member of the Kashmiri Hindu diaspora in Washington told ANI. 

In the US, PM Modi will also address the chairman and CEOs of top US companies at John F Kennedy Centre in Washington, followed by an address to the Indian diaspora at Ronald Reagan Center in DC in the evening.

Several top Indian Americans have expressed their excitement to join Prime Minister Modi on the north lawns of the UN complex in New York, on June 21, where he will lead the International Yoga Day event soon after arriving in the country.

(With ANI inputs)