Narendra Modi to address NRIs across 12 American cities

, May 18: From Tokyo to Tennessee and from Moscow to Mombasa, Gujarat Chief Minister

enjoys immense international popularity. Come Sunday, 20th May 2012 he will be addressing a mammoth gathering of Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRG) and Non-Resident Indians (NRI) spread across 12 American cities through videoconferencing. The event can be viewed live on

and will be telecasted on Gujarati channels such as TV 9.

Organizers based in USA say this event comes in the wake of a long-standing request by the Indian diaspora to hear Modi on the development in Gujarat. The timing of the event is crucial keeping in mind that Modi is immensely busy with the ongoing Krishi Mahotsav, the month long campaign aimed to take the latest technology and resources right to the doorstep of farmers in Gujarat. Remarkably, under Modi Gujarat has grown in both agriculture and industry, a feat not witnessed in any other Indian state.

This event yet again illustrates Modi’s popularity on American soil. Just recently, when Gujarat dedicated 600 MW of solar power to the nation at Charanka, USA Consul General based in Mumbai Peter Haas was present at the ceremony and said some very kind words about the development in Gujarat. Back in September 2011, an independent USA Congressional Think Tank called Modi the ‘King of Governance’ and wrote very kind words on the development in Gujarat. Later on, TIME magazine featured Modi on their cover. In a story titled ‘Modi Means Business’ its South Asia Bureau Chief Jyoti Thottam lauded the atmosphere of development in Gujarat along with the no-nonsense approach of the state Government.

In addition to TIME, Brookings Institution, which is USA’s oldest and most reputed think-tank also penned a marvelous piece authored by its Managing Editor, William Antholis on the growth trajectory of Gujarat. A very recent story by Financial Times illustrated how all sections of society, particularly the youth is expressing immense optimism on the decade of peace that has ensued since Modi took over office in 2001.

Thus, it is only understandable that the Indian diaspora expressed its desire to hear Modi. The diaspora has also been among the strongest supporters of the Chief Minister, in whom they see the much-needed skills to take Gujarat and perhaps India to greater heights.