Chicagoans hoping for PM visit in September
CHICAGO: Now that Narendra Modi has finally been crowned as Prime Minister of India, a host of Indian Americans across the country have expressed their huge satisfaction and joy with pouring congratulatory messages and jubilant celebrations.
The talk of the town at least in Chicago is if Narendra Modi, while coming to USA in September ostensibly to attend UNO Session, will pay a visit to major US cities as well. Chicagoans are very much interested in getting him here.
Dr Bharat Barai, an ardent supporter of Modi, had a series of meetings with the leader prior to Bharatiya Janata Party romping home victorious, and even after that. He assured all possible help from the NRI community for the overall development of India and at the same time took the opportunity to extend him an invitation for coming to Chicago now that US President Barack Obama and the administration is all set to welcome him to USA. This is despite alleged maneuvering and manipulations by the groups within and outside the country.
Barai in an e-mail from India said “He is planning to come to UN in September. I extended him an invitation to visit Chicago and address the people from the Fullerton Hall of the Chicago Arts Institute, from where Swami Vivekanand spoke in September 1893.
He liked that idea very much. I extended an invitation for meeting with Indian American Community in NY-NJ area, on behalf of H R Shah and many other friends from that area as well as OFBJP President Chandrakant Patel. I suggested that he should accept President Obama’s invitation to visit White House and address US Congress, should that invitation materialize.
Modi, according to Barai, merely smiled expressing his willingness to meet members of Indian community in Chicago time and opportunity permitting. Dr Bharat Barai was accompanied by his doctor wife and active woman community activist in Indiana, Dr Panna Barai.
Yet another community leader and a prominent Chicago businessman Mafat Patel, often described as uncrowned king of Devon Avenue had a chance to meet Modi before he was crowned as PM. He also voiced the desire of Chicagoans that Modi make it a point to come to Chicago whenever he happened to be in USA.
Whether Narendra Modi comes to Chicago this year or not, is a matter of opinion but it is a matter of fact that he was in Chicago in 1996 and was accorded huge reception by his sizeable number of supporters and fans. One of the community activists, Dr S. Vemury, was in forefront in organizing the reception for him.
Meanwhile, host of community organizations have congratulated Narendra Modi on his leading BJP to a smashing victory in the General Elections in India.
Ramesh Soparawala & Surendra Ullal
India Post News Service
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