US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard calls on Modi (Pics)

New York, Sept 29: Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu American in the US Congress, called on visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi here Sunday and presented him with a ginger flower garland from Hawaii.

[Read: PM Modi announces lifelong visas for Indian diaspora]

Gabbard, a strong supporter of Modi, is a Democrat Congresswoman from Hawaii.

The 33-year-old Gabbard is the first practising Hindu American in the Congress who took her oath on the Bhagwad Gita.

She had spoken to Modi after his victory in the Indian general elections and congratulated him and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

She has also been involved in the planning of Modi's US visit and had last month met two BJP leaders -- Vijay Jolly and MP Rajyavardhan Rathore -- in that connection.

Gabbard has always maintained that it was a "great blunder" by the US government to have denied a visa to Modi in the wake of the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted with a garland

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted with a garland by Member of House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard during a meeting in New York on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Member of House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Member of House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard during a meeting in New York, USA on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Member of House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Member of House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard during a meeting in New York, USA on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recieves a gift

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recieves a gift by Member of House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard during a meeting in New York on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for photograph

Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for photograph with US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard at a reception in New York on Saturday.

IANS