The upcoming event "Modi & US: Progress Together" is set to be a landmark occasion for the Indian-American community, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to address the gathering on September 22 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island. The venue, which holds 15,000 people, is expected to be filled to capacity as over 24,000 Indian-Americans have registered to attend.
Organized by the Indo-American Community of USA (IACU), the event has drawn significant support from a wide range of community organizations. According to a statement from the IACU, 590 community groups across the United States have signed up as 'Welcome Partners' to support and facilitate the event. The registrations reflect a strong turnout from Indian Americans in at least 42 states, with notable enthusiasm from the tri-state area.
The event is more than just a political speech; it promises to be a celebration of the Indian-American community's diverse cultural fabric. Attendees will include representatives from various religious communities such as Jewish, Zoroastrian, Jain, Christian, Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu. The event will also showcase a broad array of languages spoken by the Indian diaspora, including Hindi, Telugu, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali, Malayalam, and Gujarati, among others.
In addition to Prime Minister Modi's address, the event will feature cultural performances and appearances by prominent Indian-Americans from business, science, entertainment, and the arts. The IACU has indicated that they are working to accommodate as many attendees as possible and are coordinating with their partners to finalize seating arrangements.
This gathering follows Modi's previous notable addresses to the Indian diaspora, including his 2014 speech at Madison Square Garden and the 2019 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston, where he was joined by then-President Donald Trump. Modi's visit to the US comes at a significant time, just weeks before the November presidential election, with a race between Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, the first woman of Black and Indian heritage.
Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to address the high-level UN General Assembly session on September 26, following the "Summit of the Future" which runs from September 22-23. The Summit will see world leaders converge at the UN headquarters to adopt the Pact for the Future, including a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations.
The high-level General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly will take place from September 24-30. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will present his report before the debate begins, and the President of the 79th session of the General Assembly will also address the assembly.
Modi's recent activities include his visit to the UN headquarters in June last year for the Yoga Day commemoration and a State Visit to Washington DC hosted by former President Joe Biden. His speech at the upcoming UN session will be a significant moment in his third term as Prime Minister of India.
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