I am not a trump fan by any imagination but I thought it was a good speech. Am visiting India and impressed with all the hard work by a lot of people. Amazingly poor coverage of the biggest democracy in the world by NYT. I plan to read it less and less. I understand it’s bias against Trump, Modi and India but it should try just a little harder to stay objective and let its readers decide. Remember it’s a democracy and Modi did win a landslide, and no - people were not forced to attend - both modi and trump are extremely popular especially in Gujarat.
76
Agreed. More than ever before, we need global, comprehensive and—above all—impartial reporting.
17
@Amish it’s very common scenario. Most Indians in USA lean democratic. They clearly see his anti immigrant agenda but back home they whole heartedly support Modi and his islamophobic polices. They are not concerned how CAA affects minorities in India. Space for dissent has been limited. If you don’t agree with Modi, you are anti national or you deserve to move to Pakistan.
4
Trump loves India's continued use of cheap and deadly coal energy, which he wants to sell to India. That's his interest in India.
Modi, playing to Trump's weakness, unctuously flattered him, with a rally, tour, and upcoming banquet. Never mind that 2/3 of the rally spectators left early.
Modi is also the same person driving the death and disenfranchisement of 200,000,000 Muslims, and who was banned from the U.S. for several years for his extrajudicial killings of Muslims by members of his political party, Hindu nationalists, and police officers themselves.
Trump's not known to care about such details...be it Muslim, Kurdish or Yemeni genocide, he is indifferent.
Besides coal, Trump and his family would have interest in a developing a Trump hotel in India, or outsourcing production of Trump's ties, promotional materials and Ivanka's products to India.
Modi's unforgiving India is certainly not that of Ghandi, which could explain Trump's "love" for Modi.
While Trump is in India doing whatever he is doing there (?), getting a fix from someone - anyone who will "rally" for him, the real tragedy is he is de-funding the CDC during a world health crisis. His actions are not helping since he tried to downplay the risks of the virus so that he can try to control the markets.
His actions in the USA to de-fund the CDC, the EPA, etc. not only destroying the USA but the world.
1
Trump loves India's continued use of cheap and deadly coal energy, which he wants to sell to India. That's his interest in India.
Modi, playing to Trump's weakness, unctuously flattered him, with a rally, tour, and upcoming banquet. Never mind that 2/3 of the rally spectators left early.
Modi is also the same person driving the death and disenfranchisement of 200,000,000 Muslims, and who was banned from the U.S. for several years for his extrajudicial killings of Muslims by members of his political party, Hindu nationalists, and police officers themselves.
Trump's not known to care about such details...be it Muslim, Kurdish or Yemeni genocide, he is indifferent.
Interestingly, the six countries which think of Trump as the best world leader (mentioned in article), are: the Philippines (77%), Israel (71%), Kenya (65%), Nigeria (58%) (Kenya and Nigeria due to generous U.S. economic aid, and sale of fighter planes), India (56%) and Ukraine (44%) -- Ukraine still has not received all of the military aid held up this past summer, but so far, the U.S. is their only bastion against Russian aggression. Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51012853
1
Modi probably promised ten lakhs. Unfortunately Trump doesn't know the difference between a lakh(=100,000) and a million. And even ten lakh size crowd cannot be accommodated in any stadium in the world that I know of.
1
Hon’ble President, Your speech at Ahmedabad is the best we ever heard by any US President who visited India. Your flow of speech is marvelous focusing on many issues and bilateral relations. A series of measures taken by the US administration has ensured that the hopes of securing the much-sought-after H-1B visas became tougher—not just for techies, its biggest beneficiaries, but also their spouses and kids. Even students who aspire to attend colleges in the US, home to seven of the world’s top 10 colleges, are disheartened. These recent measures include the finalising of a draft rule to revoke H-4 visa holders’ right to work and tweaking the H-1B visa rules to favour advanced degree holders from US colleges. I am sure your Excellency's Visit to our Country and discussions with Our Prime Minister and Government will ease the tension of Indians in US especially concerning H-1B and H4 Visas.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
Heh! two thirds of the people left before the end of the show. Dang, the Indian people are learning. This would never happen during a cricket match.
Never mind that cricket is one of the most boring team sports foisted on the Indians by the Brits, I can't sit through the fast version of the game without getting impatient. The long 5 day version is truly horrific. But my former countrymen and women love it, go figure.
Quick a short joke, two authoritarian leaders, Trump and Modi go into a bar in Ahmedabad. Brrrrng! they don't drink and there are no bars in the "dry" state of Gujarat. Little acknowledged reality is that they consumer more liquor that most other States. Again, another go figure...
2
When he says "America loves India" he really means HE loves India, for their "cooperation" to let him build whatever he wants (who knows what kind of "bilateral bribery" went on to achieve this in the name of "America." Just check out "Trump Pune Towers" as his next project there, currently the website is overloaded, can't keep up with the traffic!
A coincident?!
Although, it seems, "India" does not quite love him that much back, as government withheld news are spreading fast today that massive riots with several deaths preceded his arrival in Deli...
13
It might be very interesting for the US to recognize the legitimacy of India's claims to its contested border with China. This would no doubt give the US much greater influence in an area within China' sphere of influence and help contain China's interests in dominating Asia. Something to think about.
'The greatest Show on Earth" starring Trump being played by yet authoritarian dictator Modi. Yes, ladies and gentleman 'Like does in fact attract Like.'
Someone please wake me up.
Too bad that while Trump was in Buddha's backyard he didn't, wouldn't, soak up some of Buddha's Eightfold Path: right belief, right resolve, right word, right act, right life, right effort, right thinking, right meditation. If Trump becomes King, he would make such thinking illegal.
1
Report is good except one small error
As Mr Crowley mentioned...
'with tens of thousands sitting for hours in temperatures well above 80 degrees.'..
It should be 31 degrees. If wanted to mention in fahrenheit then also it shouldn't be more than 72.
Cause at 80 degrees as we Indian believe, most will burn like coal.
1
There's no doubt that the majority of Indians love Donald J. Trump (especially because he's like a clown). They also have deep respect for America, because they believe (rightly or not) that America, unlike India, offers talented people a path to economic success. In Indian cities, almost every Indian family has close relatives and friends in America. One can go so far as to say that many Indian urban families are physically divided between America and India. Most visitors from India to America never need to stay in hotels. There's always a home away from home for them.
3
Trump's visit to India and the strengthening of relationship between the largest and the oldest democracies are in the interest of both the countries. The two political figures, Modi and Trump, also need each other: Besides promoting his own business in India, Trump, with Modi's help, would like to checkmate the growing geopolitical influence of China in this region. Modi, with the help of Trump, delivered a strong message to the China-Pak team that any threat to India's territorial integrity wouldn't be tolerated. Islamic terrorism was projected as a common threat and thus it was mentioned so loudly by Trump.
Some Americans may have dislike for their president, but he worked as a loyal salesperson on behalf of the business of his country -- particularly the military-industrial complex. It was remarkable to hear him openly bragging about manufacturing the best defense hardware in the world and selling them to India.
Watching this spectacle though, the conviction gets confirmed that democracies long lost their meaning when they were stolen by the people with money and power.
Namaste has a profound meaning: the soul within me bows to the soul within you and India would welcome wholeheartedly any Guest.
However, behind this great facade, clearly, the interests of the rich and powerful are relentlessly promoted. The common everyday men and women, having lost power to elect ones among themselves, keep looking upon these resourceful people for their own illusory emancipation.
2
India and America have a common adversary in China and a common ideal in it's democracy. For whatever may be the driving factor, I am glad that for once Trump is building an ally and not taking it down.
5
One thing is very clear: Most of the writers, editors, reporters and readers of NYT do not like Mr. Trump; actually hate him. That hatred is approvingly transposed to the PM of a country that would welcome Mr. Trump.
5
Hard to respect a grown man who lies and says he lies. Respect is earned though.
12
“Namaste Trump” is a contradiction in terms.
10
It seems to me that this president has missed his calling.
In his heart of hearts, he wants to be a movie star or a king. In his world view, all the world's a stage, and he is the star.
Adulation is what he seeks.
The people he hires should look "just so" - i.e., look the part even if they lack competency. Just as long as, once hired, they show him the proper deference and do whatever he says.
Trump seems , at best, a ham actor one with who has no sense of humor, let alone humility. There have been such emperors in the past. I'm going to do some reading to see how things turned out for them in the end.
6
Isn't Trump's love for India a little, well, inconsistent with his so-called advocacy of the U.S. worker? How many U.S. jobs have been outsourced to India? How many good, high-paying U.S. jobs have been taken by Indian citizens here on H1B visas? Clearly Mexico could get on Trump's good side simply by holding a huge rally in his honor, along with lots of flattery and promises of investigations to help him get reelected.
33
@Janet The new Mexican president is working to reduce corruption and is an ethical man so it would never work.
9
Well, that process of outsourcing to India has been going on since late 80’s , when Bush Sr was in the White House.
It gained momentum during Clinton years ( how else could the CEO’s show profits to the investors , when India offered a hugely talented , English speaking workforce?)
During George W. era, outsourcing to India was reinforced, and all kinds of operations switched to India after 9-11 & today , most businesses derive operating costs based on India operations
Unless some alternate shows up , outsourcing to India is here to stay
The emotional issues that you expressed are understood.
8
@Janet
Mr. Flip-Flop has only been consistent about one thing in his life: Making money for himself. Expecting him to even realize, let alone remember (if he even knew) how many jobs have been "lost" over time to India is a stretch too far.
5
What about the violent riots happening in Delhi today?
6
@Meghan Murphy ... Just to divert all the attention from Namste Trump.. happens all the time....
5
Let us hope we are spared further embarrassment and that donald will be a good boy and eat what is in front of him at tonight's state dinner. Doubt if he has good table manners, but let us hope he doesn't have a hissy fit about the cuisine and the very bad manners to ask for half a cow to eat at the event instead. Expect the worst.
11
I don't know who the speech writer is, but they could have been smart in avoiding Indian names which kept tripping him up causing him to mispronounce them. They don't seem to think through it.
5
@longhornclemson Wouldn't have mattered - he never pronounces very many words correctly anyway, can't spell or read either. Just waste of a speech writer's time.
8
@longhornclemson
Could have told him how to pronounce "namaste", too. "Namoostay", indeed. In any case, he's not coachable.
3
Our president probably does not realize that India is one the worlds largest Muslim population nations. Trump's probably ignorant of the horrors of partition and he doesn't know how hard the people and government of India have worked to make a united nation out of disparate ethnicities, religions, languages , regional identities, and caste backgrounds. He wouldn't know that much of this was done under left leaning governments. Trump no doubt feels right at home with Modi's divisive populist authoritarian government. As at home, Trump cares nothing for human lives and human ideals.
Because Trump reads nothing, I suggest a diet of Bollywood movies going back to the Trump's own formative years - the 1940s through 1960s. Maybe the musical numbers would grab his attention. Maybe the message would get through.
8
Growing up in India, I have some memory of Eisenhower's 1959 India visit. My father was excited that the U.S. President will bring huge sums of money. Nehru told the same to his people. Million plus people greeted him. But there was no Marshall Plan for India. Next U.S. Presidents, JFK and Johnson did give PL-480 food assistance to India. I am sure American wheat reached my hostel while I was a student then.
Times have changed in India now. People respond as a paid audience. NYT says one third of the attendees started leaving in the middle of Trump speech. That tells me some Reception Committee deposited per diem allowance into their bank accounts for attending the event. As soon as they received confirmation of the deposit as a text message, they started leaving.
12
So the donald took off his shoes to enter a place where shoes are not permitted. - have to wonder how he walked without those lifts. And the crowd size short by a few million as was promised his egocentric magnificence. Must have hurt. And the hugs, what, not a germaphobe if it means cuddling up to someone who gives him adulations. Revel in it donald, because your time is running out - not as many people love you here and in this world as you think.
7
First, I wonder what Trump means by the word "love." For example, he said he loved "my generals" ... especially Gen Mattis and Gen Kelly. Should India be worried abiut be ing loved by Trump? Second and in this regard, I wonder whether Trump has any real estate ambitions in India. He does have a way of non-disclosure and honoring loyalty, after all. As well, he claims to be a "deal" maker, apparently ever on the lookout and make for a good one. And as a third wonder: How often does Trump's apparent for personal need for flattery require booster? And at that: The dosage? Just wondering on these. However, Trump's the president so he can be trusted, right?
1
I bet the Indians would not be so enthusiastic for Trump, if they realized his climate policies are going to help destroy their country.
4
We need India to counter Chinese expansionism in the Indian Ocean and the Horn of Africa. The Chinese have also been militarizing islands in the South China Sea where they face only a weak response from the US Navy. Both Presidents understand this. President Trump is making a strategic move that will be beneficial to both India, the US and US allies.
6
As with all things Trump - no specifics about anything. Just vague statements of bluster. Nice to see his fake 'Be Best' first lady there alongside him for support.
5
about India, it is famously noted, 'everything, and its opposite, is true'
- despite this shameless pandering, and that two Southern state governors were Punjabi Americans (one of who did take down the Confederate flag about SC Statehouse) we take hope that all the current 4 US House members of Indian origin are Democrats, including our local Ro Khanna, a proud co-chair of Senator Sanders campaign and author of the Internet Bill of Rights.
2
Please do not get carried away by optics...India wants to sell its stuff in US and US wants to sell defense equipment to India and both want to protect their share of world business..you scratch my back and I will scratch yours..nothing more and nothing less. Obama got the same reception in India and Manmohan Singh got similar recognition in US during their visits, only difference is optics. Personalities are different but motivations are same. There are no differences between US and Indian societies, extremely religious, racist to the core, and flawed democracies. My advise to many in this blog is, get off your moral horses; if one says his country is better than the other, I have a beach front property to sell you in Arizona.
7
2/3 of your crowd gone before the end is pretty lame, even for Mr. Trump.
Trump visited Gandhi's simple home- I wonder if any wisdom rubbed off on Donald so when he returns he can deal with the tiny kid who was taken away from his mom at the border at 4 months old, who is now 2, and who can neither speak nor walk.
4
Sorry, Donald, most Americans could not locate India on a globe, especially your supporters.
4
Yes #45 loves India for the arms sales he sees on the horizon.
He better watch out...Kim will be jealous and he can be pretty mean!!!!!
3
How could you spread lies like this:
"...actions by Mr. Modi that have drawn international condemnation, including abruptly revoking the statehood of predominantly Muslim Kashmir and backing a law establishing a religious test for new migrants that critics call evidence of plans to turn India into a Hindu-centric state whose 200 million Muslims would be second-class citizens."
Why are you separating Kashmir as a Muslim majority state? Does Muslim majority bestow some kind of holy status? Indian Constitution does not bestow a special status on any state based on religion.
Jammu, Kashmir (J&K), and Ladakh are three distinctly different parts of one state. Because the elected coalition government collapsed when one of the two coalition parties withdrew its support, a President's rule (ruled by the Union government) was imposed a year ago. There was no abrupt revocation of the statehood. It is a Union Territory and will be a State as soon as elections are held and an elected government is in place. Many states in India had gone through similar status.
Really, two hundred million Muslims would be second class citizens? Explain how. What law has been passed to make the Muslims second class citizens?
Migrants are illegal aliens and they are in millions. Almost all of them have come from three neighboring Islamic countries. Religiously persecuted individuals from Islamic countries will obviously be non-Muslim, right? And that is a religious test?
8
Mr. Trump has affinity for the authoritarian leaders. He is full of praise
for Modi, Xi Jinping, victor Orban, Putin,
et al. He sees himself in their mould,
resentful with restraint by the courts,
criticism from the media and democrats. This period of populists,
demagogues,haters of pluralism will
pass. They have nothing to offer but
false promises, divisiveness and intolerance of minorities. People
will reject them. Wait and watch.
1
@s.khan
There are 57 Islamic nations. Please give examples of plurality and liberalism among them. They have survived.
3
As Trump celebrates a champion of Hindu nationalism, does he realize that the Taj Mahal (the one in India, not New Jersey) was built by a Muslim?
18
@JS44 I'm certain that if a nobody like you knows that fact, the President of the United States is also aware of it!
Modi is probably the most despised leader in the Free World, second only to Trump. So it is befitting that he give a First Class Welcome to his Mentor. I am so very much ashamed.
18
@Deb Chatterjee
Okay, everybody who walks the earth, except for you...
Adam W. Purinton pleaded guilty last March to first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder after witnesses said he yelled “Get out of my country!” before firing the shots that killed the engineer, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, and wounded two others. Mr. Purinton is a Trump-style American, and no, he doesn't love Indians. "They're taking our jobs." Trump is in India for the crowds and the market for his office and hotel buildings. Americans are financig his ventures which will only serve to benefit his grandchildren.
10
I don't love India. It's despicable class system persists. It discriminates against Muslims. It's over-populated. It has terrible pollution and continues to contribute to climate change with coal-fired power plants. India is quickly becoming a theist Hindu state. The majority of its population lives in poverty. Not to mention the absolutely horrible criminal treatment of women.
Now we'll sell India another $3B in war munitions. Let's amp up the arms war between two nuclear weapon states. Pakistan and the rest of the Islamic world will be offended, driven to hate America even more.
And I bet the farmers who idolize Trump are thrilled with India's sacred cow. How much of America's "beef" is India importing, I wonder? Ha!
10
Hey India, he's yours for a bargain. And yes, we will take a check...
34
@Plenny Wingo And, no, if it bounces, we're still good.
7
@Plenny Wingo take him for free
3
He will claim ten million in any case.
10
@Dave Hartley
So, you believe 10 million were promised? You can't even herd ten thousand goats but you believe ten million Indians at one place, in one city! No wonder ....
1
@Subhash Reddy
Seriously? There were at least that many in line to purchase “trumpburders“ at the rally...
Trump traveled all the way to Ahmedabad, India for nothing more than a photo-op. Last week, Trump was almost giddy with anticipation when he said that huge throngs would line the roads to see him. He estimated that between the roads and the airport, "we'll have about 7 million people." But Indian officials pointed out that the spectators would number closer to 100,000 and that the city of Ahmedabad's entire population is 5.5 million. Of course, we know that Trump has had a problem estimating crowd sizes since his inauguration. The trip accomplished nothing but to boost his image and gargantuan ego. What a waste of taxpayer money.
38
@Whole Grains: And Ivanka and Jared got to go too!
I think Indians genuinely like Trump and Repubs as the Democratic presidents have been bad and condescending to India
2
When I look at the crowd I can tell instantly that they have brought truck loads of people from rural towns around, probably promising them a free meal!!
15
Why is Trump in India ? Probably connected to his huge business dealings in the country. He is there to pressure someone or many of his business partners. Maybe a shake down that gains strength due to his "close ties" to Mondi? Whatever the reason for Trump's trip, we can be sure that the real purpose is to enrich Trump, inc!
17
Wait until Thursday. Once the jet lag is over, he'll sing a different tune. Don't go needlessly ga-ga over his visit.
6
When I retired and transformed into an old geezer, I decided to read a history of Indiaamong other things.
What I learned is that while the US has a history of democracy stretching back to the Constitution of 1787, India has no such legacy. When India looks to great leaders of the past, it has Ghandi, a religious leader, but no Washington, no Federalist papers.
It seems weird to me that the NY Times tries to judge India by American standards. For many Indians, religion is more important than democracy. Why should Americans question their values?
Yes, there was a partition because Muslims and Hindus did not get along. Yes, there is danger of a nuclear war between opposing religions in India and Pakistan.
But why not cure the religions discrimination in the US before hectoring foreigners about how far they fall short?
I refer of course to the culture wars between conflicting religions in the US.
On the one hand are the fundamentalist Christians who support Trump. On the others are the adherents to the secular religion taught in universities under the rubrics sociology, political science and economics.
Yes, these have become a religion because freedom of speech is no longer tolerated.
I refer of course to liberals attempt to prevent Franklin Graham from even speaking because he is a fundamentalist who believes that "homosexuality is a sin."
Liberals have backed away from Freedom of Speech engraved in our own constitution.
What gives America the right to criticize?
7
Looks more like a deal to outsource more American jobs. Plus scope out locations for a new Trump property.
12
As an Indian-American (and someone who despises Trump), the unrestrained sneers and jibes towards India in these comments are disheartening.
News flash: Greedy CEOs, not Indian programmers, shipped your jobs overseas. Racism is hardly unique to India ("lighter tones on top" sounds like it describes much of the American South, and more of the Northeast and West than we'd like to admit.)
This was a country that produced Gandhi, Ramanujan, Chandrasekhar, Bose, and Tagore; I wonder how many throwing stones have accomplishments to match those great men.
20
@Publius Yes, India has produced the likes of Gandhi, Tagore, Sarla Thakral, Kalpana Chawla, Alla Rakha and Faiz Ahmad Faiz (I noticed a lack of equally deserving Muslim Indians on your list). - all great people.
Unfortunately, India is now producing the likes of Modi and his Nationalist thugs. Indians envisioning greatness under Modi would do well to catch and spark a revolution with those stones that you say some people are casting. They could sure use some really brave people to stand up to him right now.
3
On the contrary , there are several million investors in India who watch the DJI, SP 500 for a few hours - each day - in the night and they watch the Nikkei early morning
That’s how intertwined the funds / stocks/ markets are now, sir.
About the trade , you’re right , there’s no history of India conquering any country under the pretext of trade !
Of course Trump loves India, dictators stand by each other and support one another. Modi is not Mahatma Gandhi, he follows in Trump’s footsteps. He hates immigrants, even Muslims who India is their country, not those who immigrated there. Women are raped, burned with acid, killed in the hands of their fathers and brothers, and hardly anyone is held accountable for it. Of course Trump loves India, he has businesses he must protect in that country. If you think that, that crowd showed up to welcome Trump willingly, look a little closer. I have no doubt, a lot of them were paid, and the rest were forced to participate. Most Indians are so poor that a little money can make a big difference in their lives.
11
A few USCIS statistics to ponder ;
The second largest immigrant population in the US are from ... India
The close second right on the tail of becoming number one illegal immigrant population ( for the record S. Korea is right in the mix ) in the US are from ... India
The largest ( by a large margin ) HiB population in the US is from ... India
Begging the question ... if India ( especially under Modi ) is so wonderful as some would believe ... then why are they .. by hook or by crook .. all coming here in droves ?
A few business statistics to ponder while you're at it ;
The single largest location of all US business outsourcing be it manufacturing , phone support .. tech support ... customer service etc is .. India
The greatest number of copyright infringements ... broken contracts etc ... emanate from ... India
etc - et al - ad nauseam
Begging the question ... why among Trump supporters many of whom a desperate for employment .. do any of them see India as a valid .. Ally ?
8
Please consult a style manual re the proper meaning of “beg a question”.
Hint: it does NOT mean to raise or invite a question.
Ahmedabad is the capital of the Gujarat and President Modi is a Gujarati so it’s not too difficult to fill that stadium. Here’s an interesting thought. Would all those Gujaratis turn out for Senator Sanders or Mayor Bloomberg?
3
@John Murray
They would if the pay was the same as today...
Dear India. Please note, the tickets provided to President Trump and the 1st lady are one way tickets. Please keep them as our gift to you and your country. Perhaps Mr. Trump can renew his reality TV career in India...perhaps a reboot of "Who Wants To Be a Crorepati??"
Regards,
The American People
12
Didn't Trump once put the Taj Mahal into bankruptcy?
I'm surprised they would let him anywhere near it !
10
Modi is playing to DT's ego and vanity while the poor and marginalized suffer...It is a game of smoke and mirrors. Says a lot really. And Modi is treading carefully with ulterior motives...phony diplomacy if I've ever seen it.
7
Music to the ears of followers of of news about the India and US relations. India has waited for 73 years since its independence for a US president to say "AMERICA LOVES INDIA" The first US president to visit India was Dwight Eisenhower and since then 7 presidents have visited India making Donald J Trump (DJT) the 8th president. If president tricky Dick Nixon was the worst and toxic president for Indo-US relations, DJT is the best president in building mutual trust between the 2 countries and a secure strategic partnership of this century.
Those engaging in trivial pursuit to make this historic visit of the 45th president of the USA as an opportunity to take cheap shots to bash DJT or Modi or both are failing to see the rich harvest of prospects for everlasting peace and prosperity in the world where almost a third of the world's population resides. What can rise out of this close mutually beneficial friendship between the 2 greatest democracies in the world? Only the very best. Whether these two leaders benefit from their alleged bromance is a matter that hardly matters in the grand scheme of things. Together they can do a lot of good.
6
@Girish Kotwal
I’ll have what he’s taking...
What's the background for this visit, and this extravagance? For months India has been trying to eke out a favourable trade deal with the US, after Trump imposed tariffs, which compound India's economic woes. These efforts at a trade deal have been wobbling in the preceding weeks. Now, Modi knows exactly how to press the right buttons for Trump. If you think this exercise is anything other than this, you're not paying attention.
23
@H.K
It's pure propaganda on the side of India,- they know exactly how to get to Trump. All they have to do is flatter him, praise him and make him look good - basically pander to his narcissistic ego, which is what they did with a rent-a-crowd and pageantry.
Basically the same way as North Korea got exactly what they wanted. Trump is being played again, and is too stupid to notice and his "advisors" are too scared to point it out.
The reason for the visit is simple. Both leaders are two peas in a pod, Modi is taking India down the same path of authoritarianism that Trump is taking America.
No more than that. Both have found kindred spirits in the other.
10
There was a very weird question raised but left unanswered by Secretary of State Pompeo’s recent NPR rant-interview — why does Pompeo carry around a piece of paper with an unlabeled map printed on it? My guess is b/c Trump sez the globe they were using was wrong. The unlabeled map allows some flexibility with explaining stuff to trump.
13
Once again the American taxpayers are footing the bill for another multi-million $$ sales junket.
Only the fact that 3 of the 4 Trump properties in India, their largest international market are in serious trouble due to real estate glut/slump could this President have been lured abroad to India as the WHO braces for a pandemic.
20
Trump, who 'grew' an inch to 6'3'' when he gained weight, looks shorter than his 5'10" wife in the clip where they're walking together. She wears heels but he uses elevator shoes.
And yeah, that's all I noticed about this phony spectacle.
17
A heartfelt ‘OK Boomer,’ to both of them. Modi and Trump need each other and their artificially-contrived crowds to boost their egos, nothing more. This is simply Modi’s reciprocation for the September 2019 Houston rally organized by right wing Indian Americans, which Trump could not miss. In the meantime both Indians and Americans are suffering from their so-called leadership, which promotes social divisiveness, total disregard for the environment and climate change, and no consideration for protecting the values of democracy. Thinking Indians and Americans are and will continue to speak out, and we only hope for our children that this too shall pass.
9
I can remember reading that Obama got a deal with India to ship nuclear waste to India. What sort of government buys up other nations nuclear waste and buries it. No foresight.
3
@CK I think it is the reverse. India agreed to surrender nuclear waste from its commercial nuclear power plants so it can't be diverted to make atomic weapons.
2
NYT:" . . .Gujarat is also the place where Mr. Modi’s critics say that he, as chief minister of the state, played an unforgivable role during a wave of sectarian violence in 2002 that left more than 1,000 people dead — almost 800 of whom were Muslims killed by Hindu mobs."
DJT: "America loves India!"
I mean, "Nobody's perfect." Right?
2
@Munrovian the Supreme court of India, the highest judicial body acquitted him of all those charges after an exhaustive investigation. What "critics" say is somewhat less important than what the supreme court says, don't you think?
3
America doesn't love India. Americans can't even find it on a map. The only truth here is that Trump loves a screaming crowd, and he'll go anywhere to find one.
19
Any chance Trump will clean the streets of New Delhi?
Nah! Modi / Trump it’s all about them...
“Some people (here and in India) will follow anything that moves.”
3
Trump's declarations of "Love" on behalf of America are no more informed than the comments made here. Sorry! I take that back. How rude of me....Rather, Trump's declarations are (generally) less informed.
1
The myth of potential Muslim marginalization in India under Modi.
1 India's Muslim population has increased from about 6 million in 1947 to about 15 million today.
2. Muslim men can have multiple wives despite a secular constitution.
3. Muslims dominate India's Bollywood film industry and are well represented in India sports and politics. In fact one of the Muslim politician said during a recent public speech said India's 15 million Muslims can easily take care of 100 million Hindus.
4. Government continues to fund Islamic madrassas, the number of which has grown from 88 in 1947 to more than 500,000 today. Until recently, the government provided a subsidy to Muslims for Hajj.
5. The new citizenship law only speeds up the citizenship applications of non-Muslims escaping religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Muslims fleeing political and religious violence can apply for citizenship through normal process. Non-Muslims virtually been eliminated in India's neighboring Muslim states. None of the human rights agencies have taken notice.
9
@Albela Shaitan Check your facts.
According to Wikipedia there are close 200 Million Muslims in India.
2
@Hugh G
Oops. I forgot to add a zero in front of 6 million and 15 million. Thanks for checking.
According to the Indian Census report 2011
Muslims were 138 million. http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx
That estimate you suggested may be closer to truth given the higher reproduction rate among Muslim women.
Islamist clerics in India often give calls to Muslims to produce more kids in order to overtake India's Hindu population and to impose Sharia.
2
@Albela Shaitan and Hugh G: The Times to which these comments are attached says there are 200 million Muslims in India.
In the best of all worlds, the whole Trump mafia family would just stay there.
17
Trump loves nasty bigots, he just cannot get enough of them. He especially likes bigots who get away with heinous crimes against innocents. India is a vast country but this leader is a bigoted tribalism who is encouraging atrocious behaviors against Muslims in India who never did any harm.
11
India has a totally corrupt government. The people 0f India lack food and safe drinking water. Their streets and their rivers are overflowing with pollution. Modi's Hindi government is persecuting Moslems and Christians. Now is the time for our government to impose sanctions on India at least as severe as those imposed on Iran and North Korea.
8
@James Nowak Please, don't spread false information.... This is not good
1
America loves India and Americans love Indians.
But Americans love even more when people—Indians, Americans, and otherwise—love themselves by not imposing hideous bigoted tyrants like modi, or hideous bigoted parodies of tyrants like the loser here, on themselves and us.
We love humanity most, and enemies of humanity least.
2
Wow... Modi sure knows how to play the game ;)
6
Surprised he didn't ask Modi for the name of a good steak house...
6
Modi is a bigger fool than I thought - this holy cow beef eating serial liar , philanderer real estate con artist is being welcomed to the ashram of Mahatma Gandhi , who showed by example that Truth and individual human dignity , symbolized by his growing his own food, spinning weaving his own meager needs cloth, was greater than false display of money, power, pride or empire .
I grew up in Ahmedabad - most people there worship nothing more than what Trump represents - a gaudy wealth, a mindless obsession with ‘bijness’ and of course , a white skin ! And antipathy to Muslims -
What they don’t notice that this guy ests holy cow beef everyday, has squeezed legal immigration to America’s numerous Gujarati run motels and Even legal immigration to the US while imposing trade tariffs
5
I wonder if Trump noticed the absolute squalor surrounding his Trump towers.
6
Can the Indians keep him there?
11
A religious supremacist, anti-Muslim bigot, strongman wannabe from the US finds a kindred soul in Narendra Modi. Surprise, surprise.
Someone might remind them both of who built the Taj Mahal (unless Modi and the BJP have declared it built by Hindus).
4
Lots of trump supporters on this comment board. I didn't realize that acolytes of trump (who hates the NYTimes) would actually pay for a subscription to this paper. Weird.
4
@Gardengirl Something is up. You can find 5 or 10 articles everyday that bash Trump in one form or another and at the most you see only a hand full of favorable comments to Trump.
Maybe the Russians are outsourcing some internet work to India- just like everyone else?
5
After trump has been relegated to the Dumpster of history (or, perhaps better yet, a federal penetentiary) America will remember how India debased itself to kiss this clown's keister. It's beyond disgusting.
15
America and India are two natural allies. One the Strongest Democracy and the Other the Largest in the world. Their Principals and Policies are very much alike when it comes to Freedom, Equal Justice under the Law and protection from tyranny.
Both have Dynamic Leaders who care deeply for their own countries, but NOT at the expense of others, before the mushy concept of Global Interests.
As an Ex Indian and now an American for over four decades,; I am proud and grateful American citizen and unabashedly love my country (America) with all my heart and soul and am proud of the land that gave me birth and it's civilization and culture.
4
Did Trump ever say "America loves the Ukraine?" Ukraine being our ally that is fighting Russian efforts to expand in Europe. But Trump has no business interests in Ukraine. He does have business interests in India. And from what I hear on TV those interests are hurting. Trump again is working for his own interests, not the interests of all Americans.
10
I spend a lot of time in India professionally, and have traveled extensively. I like it there.
I always think that, if America continues on its current path it will sink to the level where India is now. And I don't only mean the poverty, but the viciousness of the society.
India has no safety net to speak of. Health care is cheap for someone like me, but unaffordable for most. Tax collection is hapharzardous at best, and focusses on a middle class. that is clearly suffering. At the same time, the rich people go untaxed.
Everyone is fighting, every day. Navigating in India makes NYC streets look like a stroll in a resort.
Corruption on every level. The INR2000 notes were barley dry, and a policeman forced me to hand over one of them or would otherwise arrest me on trumped up charge. More seriously, if you want to get done ANYTHING, prepare to bring bakshish. We are not there yet, but it will come, with institutions here under assault and career officials being abandoned by their superiors.
The infrastructure is in shambles, just like they will be in the US in 30 years. The new high speed train in India goes at a whopping 70 miles an hour, just like the Acela.
Modi is promoting a discriminatory immigration of citizens politics - all including a religious test, just as his buddy Trump. And he is not coy about it.
21
India is a vital Ally. Trump understands this. This door has to be wide open.
5
@P&L
Correction . India has never been a true ally of the US vital or otherwise . .
What Trump understands it that he has extensive financial interest in India and therefore myst pander to Modi lest he find his investments at risk with a government known to renege on its promises and contract
10
@TJ Martin
Fully aware.
He's building this highly necessary relationship.
@TJ Martin
And when has the US been a true ally of anyone?
Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests.
3
I fail to understand the unabashed rancor here. For the first time in its history we actually have an American president who is willing to support India. Indians can never forget the interview where tge Indian PM late Mrs Indira Gandhi was made to justify the Bangladesh War. At long last we have a westerner who is willing to at least address the havoc wrought on this ancient and great nation by another western nation. Why does it smart so much???
4
@Sad Sack Support? He only went there because they guaranteed him a screaming crowd. Tell me what he's done that "supports" India.
11
@Sad Sack
When stating, “...the havoc wrought on this ancient and great nation by another western nation...”, are you referring to trumps visit?
@Sad Sack: Because nothing Trump does is genuine.
Don't be flattered by the reception, get real. The crowd was bused in by the Government and on Government's expense, Government workers were given day off to attend mandatory rally, poor were likely paid to attend.
Donald need to master this art on his second inauguration where financial contributors should be asked to fill up his inauguration ceremony using same trick.
15
”We will always remember this remarkable hospitality. We will remember it forever,” Mr. Trump said to loud cheers, as his wife, Melania, sat nearby. “From this day onward, India will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
Is that the royal "we"?
1
Perhaps while in India Mr. Trump could read up a bit on Mahatma Gandhi, his statesmanship, his commitment to non-violence and his views on wealth vs poverty.
But I won’t be holding my breath!
7
@Stephen
We should also remember that Gandhi called Muslims a bully in his autobiography.
1
Nothing shouts love and confidence like a 2-inch thick barrier of bulletproof glass to shield Trump from his "fans".
8
Did anyone consider the wisdom of gathering thousands of people in a rally in the country next door to the COV-19 origin?
9
@J W
Vice President Pence, perhaps?
I really don't think Americans love India as most offshore jobs have gone there and in this country they have taken over many small business
4
Dictators love roaring crowds and pledges of praise and adoration even if at the point of gun, Trump is like that as a wanna be dictator as he assumes the sole rule he had at Trump Organization to his latest entity the USA and Trump are one in the same in his distorted mind . Tweet away reality with lies supported by Murdocks pledge of support in return for access any time he wants.
3
That's great that we have such amazing rapport with such an important world leader.
Maybe we can have an India/US trade agreement, it would be of enormous benefit for both sides.
And who knows? maybe an Indian American as president? who is a woman? why not?
ps: Oh yea, ignore the critics, there will always be some one who hates good news.
1
A presidential campaign in India, how funny. Did they pay the participants?
7
Isn't this the same India that has taken so many American jobs mr. trump?
9
‘America Loves India,’
Ahem, as testified by millions of Indians working / living in USA or working in India for USA companies, the opposite is far closer to truth.
Revisit H1B visas business and then we will see where this 'love' really stands.
4
Modi is not anti-Muslim. This is a wrong image projected about him. His party has had the policy of providing all citizens equality in terms of laws and privileges. Muslims got a lot more privilege in independent India than others - they have their own civil code. A Muslim man can marry four wives according to this privilege. A Muslim man can divorce his wife by saying talaq three times. And Muslim voters are wooed by Indian politicians because they vote as a block. Modi's government is working towards a uniform civil code, appropriate for a secular democratic nation. In this regard, they have abolished the divorce law that gave a Muslim man special privilege of saying talaq three times and abandoning his wife. Muslim get government discount for their pilgrimage to Mecca. Modi's government also took steps to plug the holes regarding islamic terrorism by abrogating the special privilege act for Kashmir. If everyone has equal privileges in India, then it must be true to the claim. The recent CAA law is to help those who escaped from Muslim persecution from neighboring Muslim countries. And India's internal and external enemies are projecting lies copiously. Modi wants to see India progress and has been working relentlessly towards that goal. It is beginning to bear fruit.
5
Sure I love India, but I don't like Modi. Trump loves right-wing autocrats but he doesn't speak for all of us in America.
4
The comments herein, as always, are instructive.
Who, beyond residents of urban leftwing fever swamps, would willingly turn this nation over to the haters and perpetual malcontents that are today’s Democrats and ‘progressives.’
I don’t like Trump and didn’t vote for him in 2016 but he is not you and that is more than enough for me this November.
3
US citizen of Indian origin here - 20 + years in the US and switched from being a Democrat to a Republican - I am voting Trump and happily so and I hope all Indians like me do so.
Liberal hypocrisy and finger wagging has done it for me.
5
@SR Indian (Hindu Brahmin if it matters to you) who has recently given up on India and moved to the US. You deserved to be deported to the land you profess to love so much. India is on the verge of collapse thanks to our political class . BJP and Congress are both to blame. People like you are either clueless about India or worse support the BJP turning India in to a basket case.
Need I say, President Donald J Trump is not in India to celebrate Donald J Trump.
He is there to represent the United States of America to the people of India. We have sent our very worst!
2
"America loves India" So, how about opening the border for those Indians who want to immigrate to the US?
Norwegians declined your offer. They won't come.
Under Bernie administration with similar social benefits of Norwegians', they may consider though.....
1
I'm curious to know if the narcissistic/dictator gene can be identified, and if so, can we manipulate it out of existence? Asking for a friend.
4
Regarding that wall hiding a slum from Trump's motorcade, one Indian wag tweeted: "Trump finally got his wall. And Indians paid for it!"
12
Is there a person alive in the U.S. who is impressed by this extravaganza?
6
@Cornflower Rhys There's a whole basket full of them!
2
"America Loves India" - Sure.
America Loves China, Russia, too.
The question is if they LOVE America?
2
US Business is in India to take jobs away from Americans,
“Many millions of Indian graduates should be allowed to take white collar jobs from U.S. college graduates, says a coalition of top U.S. business leaders.”
“The U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum is a spin-off of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is run by the current and former CEOs and presidents of Cisco, Boeing, Deloitte, Adobe, Caterpillar, Dell, FedEx, Medtronic, Marriott, PepsiCo, and other companies. The forum’s 20-page pitch says:
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful strategic partnership between the U.S. and India. Promoting bilateral trade is an important part of our work, but our mission reaches far beyond this. It is about business and government coming together in new ways to create meaningful opportunities that have the power to change the lives of citizens.”
“Amid the corporate blurb, the group admits it wants to allow the free movement of Indian graduates from low-wage India into the high-wage U.S. economy, saying “USISPF’s Workforce Mobility Committee will … continue to make the case for the free flow of skilled labor in both countries.”
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2019/10/24/corporate-ceos-to-indian-govt-send-us-millions-of-indian-college-graduates/
Yes I'm sure if you asked Trump supporters in red states how they felt about India they wouldn't stop gushing about the place.
/s
2
Two corrupt theocracies stand hand-in-hand.
2
As soon as Modi finished his speech, the people in the audience started leaving.
We know the feeling.
3
@Barb H. Yes, I know! They don't sleep in the stadium!
1
Trump's 'family' values, five children by three wives and his predominately beef based diet doesn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of his conservative Indian fans.
6
I see the hypocrats are at it again. When Obama visited India, twice, the Democrats gave him nothing but accolades. But, for Trump, "the 110,000 were ordered to go there". "he lied about the crowd being the biggest", "Trump is being played like a violin", "Trump destroyed the Taj Mahal in New Jersey". How petty and how hypocritical.
2
@R.R
Petty, perhaps, but all true...
Two of democracies' tyrants.
2
9 out of 10 Indian Americans will vote for President Trump.
1
@S. C.
What about the Cowboy Americans?
I'm waiting for India's termination from the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) program last year to be reinstated, and then spun as a major first ever trade deal victory by Trump
Two rotten peas in a rotten pod.
5
The opening of a new cricket stadium, gets turned into a rally for that thing in the white house. smh!
4
“Namaste Trump”. We have officially jumped the shark, people.
2
Close the borders now.
2
Narcissist Trump should stay in India where he can have giant rallies everyday.
6
I hope Indians know who Srinivas Kuchibhotla was and why he was killed while they're applauding Donald Trump.
Since the most popular comments have focused on the domestic policies of the two presidents and their attitude towards Muslims, a bit of unsentimental geopolitical analysis might be a worthwhile alternative.
India has thousands of miles of land borders with two nuclear-armed nations that still have claims upon Indian territory (China and Pakistan). In that situation, the enemy of enemy becomes my friend and so India has drawn closer to the United States. Similarly, the United State now looks for allies to block the rise of Chinese influence and India ranks as the most populous candidate to join Japan and Australia on the U.S. side. So in the language of the old Pravda, is is no accident that the U.S. and Indian navies have been conducting substantial joint exercises in the ocean spaces in which China would like to extend its influence.
Such realities will outlast both Modi's and Trump's presidencies. Politics is fleeting, but geography and demographics are eternal - and unsentimental.
9
Well, Trump lied about how big the crowds would be and then he lies about how big the crowds had been. In particular he prevaricates about how his crowds compared in size to previous crowds. For example, he claimed the turnout for his rally (110,000) was "the biggest event they've ever had in India", even though India has had political rallies where attendance was in the millions, and even though President Eisenhower's 1959 visit included an event with a million attendees.
So why in the world did President Trump go to India? He lies like that here at home and the Republicans love him for it.
17
@Marvant Duhon
The Kumbh Mela, a peaceful pilgrimage in India, has had up to 80 million people participate. But clearly Trump's 110 thousand dwarfs that.
4
@Marvant Duhon
I have been to India and probably millions saw me arrive too. That is a typical day in traffic in Delhi or Calcutta.
I want to find the person who goes to India and only sees 110,000 people while they are there.
5
I'd love to be the cartoonist who draws this. Especially, Melania at the Taj Mahal.
Thought balloon: "Would've been nicer on my next honeymoon..."
15
How hollow is the adulation. 110,000 people ordered to be there. When you see the multitudes in North Korea, Iran, Turkey assembled, I think about the individual denied their rights as human beings. A trump goal.
17
@DavidJ No, they actually love Trump. If you lived or worked in an American city you'd know this though!
@Mark There is a disconnect in your little narrative. Read "A Stable Genius." Don't be afraid. I loved the part where Trump didn't know what happened at Pearl Harbor.
5
Trump once again is played like a violin. Or in this case, like a sitar, by another world strongman.
31
Appears to be more people than attended Trump's inauguration.
21
I admire India’s secular, multi-ethnic democracy, Modi’s racism and authoritarian government, not at all.
21
However American feels about India, one thing is clear: it hates Trump and prays for his sudden and amazing fragmentation.
8
This is simple, provide Trump a monster spectacle that totally appeals to his ego and he'll love you.
14
I don't imagine the Trumps toured the immense slums on their way to the Taj Mahal?!
18
@Kay Tenney
Why would he go to India for that?
He can tour slums and dysfunction in several cities run by Democrats right here at home.
5
Can you imagine what happened to everyone who depends on tourism traffic to eat? And did they pay all those people sweating in the stadium for their time? And they had to stop tourism and clean out the slums for them. Ugh.
1
@Kay Tenney
That’s why he doesn’t go to SF or Seattle and also left NYC and moved to FL.
Modi's first meeting with Trump in Oct 2017 was interesting. Modi was expressing concerns re: China's ambitions in the region. Trump replied, “It’s not like you’ve got China on your border.” The look of incredulity on Modi's face was unmistakable. According to witnesses "his expression went from shock and concern to resignation.” How well we know.
27
Since Trump is so thrilled with the crowds that came out for him in India, maybe he should consider moving to a state where he actually is appreciated. He doesn't even have to change the MAGA logo on his hats. It will now stand for Make Ahmedabad Great Again (and best of all, he won't have to worry about mispronunciation).
16
India and the US should be partners in countering China, including China's eviction from Tibet.
9
I have to say I’m very disappointed with the ad hominem attacks on President Trump from the commenters here. Quite frankly, I expect more from this paper and it’s readers. For Eight years conservative readers of the Times had to endure President Obama, his Stimulus which was paid for by higher taxes, fast and furious, IRS scandal (Remember Lois Lerner Adam? Obstruction anyone?) and lastly Benghazi. The left has tried to hamstring Trump with the Fisa Court and spying, attacking and prosecuting his associates and Russian collusion hoaxes, and lastly a joke impeachment. I respectfully criticized Obama and his policies but he never had to endure anything like this. Now with your merry band of socialists you realize, at this point, the American pubic is not receiving you message, and President Trump is making amazing progress for the U.S. on the world stage. You gasp out the same tired message. Higher taxes, higher spending, and more government. Less freedom. Now I fully acknowledged President Trump is far from perfect and, to put it nicely, highly unorthodox, sometimes crude, and has redefined the Presidency forever, and not for the good and dignified. But, you no one to blame but yourselves. You made him that way, he was popular with the left until he became a Republican. But, in the end we have to thank you. He is a disrupter and we will see how history judges him.
12
@MiguelM So well written and very well said. Comment of the week no doubt!!
@MiguelM - my post (3 up) was not an ad hominem. It was a 1st person account of Modi's first meeting w/Trump, according to multiple witnesses. It is the truth, please take the 30 sec to read it.
It's not a matter of Trump's crudeness (crassness, etc) but more his profound ignorance. There are no more adults in the room, nothing but lackeys, and that is truly frightening. And Benghazi......please.
5
@MiguelM
Actually, Trump was a Democrat for years but got no traction in that party. Democrats see right through him, and Trump doesn't like that!
At one point, he noticed that Republicans bought into his schtick. Here was a rich field of opportunity for the conman: attention, money, power, connections, etc. In short, suckers aplenty.
For the Dems, he was ever only a grade-C Hollywood wannabe from Queens.
And still is.
His true calling was hosting beauty pageants and starring in a reality TV show.
Him being president is like Andrew Dice Clay being a top nuclear physicist.
You know?
4
Well, at least Trump has a place to exile when the convictions start taking him and his family down...providing Modi stays in power. If not, there's always Russia.
13
"what critics call Mr. Modi’s anti-Muslim Hindu nationalism"? What critics call? Why all the dancing around the truth? Call him what he is: A Hindu nationalist xenophobe who is trying his best to rid India of Muslims by any means necessary. If he can't get rid of them directly, he's more than happy to see them disenfranchised and lose their citizenship. THIS is the type of person Trump admires!
15
Pretty risky of India to let Trump let Trump into the Taj Mahal. He destroyed the one in New Jersey.
25
India was among the countries he didn't want to see migrants coming from. Remember he likes Norway. And when the two Indian engineers were gunned down by a racist he didn't immediately decry the murders. He is a racist who can hold his breath if money is involved.
19
Such elitists - NYT readers. They try and one up each other with “smart” lines with very little substance just to get likes from their fellow elitists. Can’t fathom how they can call a duly elected prime minister - mind you a landslide victory - an authoritarian is beyond me. And the herd mentality kicks in and that becomes the most liked comment. Have they researched anything about him? A lot of these comments are no different than what you would hear on Fox News - only difference - Fox News would substitute a Democrat. No wonder trump wins the heartland - these armchair elitists just don’t get it. They are no better then Trump supporters.
8
@Amish moo
Elitist they may be; I expect my President to do his homework before representing our country. Not knowing China borders India? Really?
6
@Amish Who qualifies as an elitist? I always thought that elitists were those who controlled the power in the country. Trump, and the uber wealthy, and the heads of large corporations would fit that description. Perhaps you mean people who are well educated. That would include teachers, professors, and nurses. These people have no power to speak of in this country. This anti-intellectualism is one of the things wrong here, the glorification of the ignorant. This is culminated in our current no-nothing leader.
6
I am remembering on old Italian expression, it seems that Modi and other world leader have embraced. Translated into English it roughly means: "if he's a fool, make him a happy fool"
7
Did they check the temperatures of that large crowd before they entered? Any virus there?
5
...and then he goes home and tweets from the safety of his quarters that India isn't doing enough to contribute and immigrants are not welcome here, yada, yada, yada.
11
Trump: "You know, I had a casino called Taj Mahal. It was named after me, of course. Maybe we could work a deal for your Taj Mahal. It would need some renovation, of course, but I see a golf course, some nice suites, and maybe a casino. Just throwing it out there.
5
It's hard for anyone who hasn't spent time in India to imagine what it's like there. It's society was ancient when Europe was struggling with the Plague. Palaces older than America are covered with old growth forest. As Americans idolize the idea of freedom, India idolizes the idea of holiness. Buses have altars on their dashboards, neighborhoods grow around the tombs of saints. People are generally open and friendly. Yet the income disparity there puts ours to shame. Wealthy Indians live in walled estates guarded by private armies. What you could think of as middle class houses are not much better than American slums, and the poor might have no more than a one room stone shack with no plumbing and only occasional electricity – if they're lucky – many have nothing. Yet they often seem immune to poverty and remain cheerful. Perhaps that's because there is no "Indian dream." This is a society that produces some of the world's best and most talented minds, and their culture is totally different from ours. American business is doing what British business did in the 19th century, but India will prevail.
I love India.
18
Of course Trump loves India.
India is home to the largest portfolio of Trump real estate projects outside North America, according to the president’s son Donald Trump Jr., who has made repeated trips here in recent years. The ventures include four luxury residential projects and an office tower, all branded with the Trump name under licensing deals.
I am not sure all of America loves or respects a whole lot of what happens in India.
8
Trump loves spectacular displays, sparkly things and adulation. I hope he stays forever.
15
Since he is behind the Democratic candidates he cozies up to another Dictator who is ruthless where his company has the greatest number of projects/investments, to be sure of his own future...doing nothing for the US that I can see. He is all about Trump once again. Basking in adulation of those who do not have to have their country gutted by his rule.
4
Modi, whether he likes it or not, has an ugly past. His past involvement on anti Muslim actions in the country. Does Modi think all that will be erased and forgotten, with the visit of a US leader?
India can be the oldest democracy. What good is it, if the country's leader, continues to ignore basic democratic principles?
3
@CITIZEN: “World’s oldest democracy meets world’s largest democracy" in the quote in this article refers to the U.S. as the oldest and India the largest, with 1.3 billion people or so.
This is no surprise. Modi is divisive and is curtailing the rights of Muslims in India. All dictators have a friend in Trump. The question, “Is this who we are as a nation,” is not really a question. It is a plea that the people who make up a nation act with humanity and respect toward others. Trump is neither interested nor capable of this behavior. We have always been a nation of haves and have-nots. Now, the have-nots are more numerous and include more white people. Keeping Trump is not going to help white people, unless they own corporations. Keeping Modi will not help India. Electing just about any Democrat will help us all, including white people. More importantly, keeping the House in Democratic hands and winning back the Senate will be a win for us all.
6
@Judith Stern
What kind of Muslim rights? A man can marry four wives? I guess you don't care much about woman's rights and equality much. Before you take the side of Muslims, please go and read more in details about how Muslim citizens of India have behaved over the years and what they are beginning to do in countries like Spain, UK, Germany, Sweden etc. Muslim men in India could divorce their wives by saying Talaq three times. No court, no legal proceedings. And the woman has nothing for her. Modi put an end to that. if you really care for women and their rights, you would be thanking him. If you simply dislike him for the sake of it, be my guest.
5
Namaste means "the divine in me bows to the divine in you".
That does apply to all people and I think Mahatma Gandhi would have bowed to the divine spark within Trump, as he did believe that all human beings had this spark of the divine. (And Trump would have persecuted and insulted him)
Likewise, Christianity teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. There is a deeper wisdom to these teachings, as hate only inflames.
I am challenged to bow to Trump as a divine soul or to pray for him as I am horrified, appalled and afraid at how he harms people with his greed, malevolence and bloated ego.
Yet- he is just another human being and part of the divine play of good and evil in the world. So, I will humble my own ego and wish his soul well, pray for him to feel safe and loved.
5
@lkos
He has no soul,he is all heel................
1
@lkos: Meanwhile, Hindu nationalists are making a saint of the man who murdered Ghandi.
1
The whole spectacle was well worth it just to hear Trump try to say the word Gujarat.
7
There is nothing that Trump can do without venomous negative comments from the left. He went to India and said little. But everything Trump says is dissected into minutiae. In the mean time we have the democrats front runner speaking highly of socialism. That is what scares me.
5
@Jim what is it about democratic European style socialism that scares you? I'm not saying you should or shouldn't be scared I'm just trying to understand.
3
@Jim
It’s a good thing that he said little, given his slaughtering of their language...
A clever move by Trump. It will be reported widely by US media, making him appear adept at international relations and crowding out a few more deserving stories as well. Americans of Indian heritage are a prosperous and influential group in their local communities. He's thinking of that too. And they vote.
4
This trip is partly about Trump's need for attention and enthusiastic crowds. i wish the American press would ignore him this time.
26
Mr Trump is popular in India because many in India are tired of the liberal finger wagging of the West that is hypocritical at best and borderline racist at the worst. For years, the western media has portrayed India in only the most negative of lights despite many accomplishments including that of Mr. Modi. False promises of strong relationships by Democrats including Obama and Clinton have tired Indians and Indian-Americans. I suspect many of the later will be voting for Mr Trump in November, which will tilt Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania again in his favor.
31
@Sam - sure continue this argument ... until you or your family are not seeing the impacts of the open divisiveness and racism that Trump has unleashed, go ahead and continue to support him... hope you never have to face the consequences.
Its astonishing that Indian in the USA continue to live in this bubble that they feel they will never be impacted by this administrations policies.
Failure of Indians in the USA to blindly support a racist, hate mongering person because their 401Ks are doing well will come back to haunt them in later years.
6
@Sam American presidents in general are popular in India. Google Obama in India. It has nothing to do with Trump.
8
@Sam
You forgot to mention how impressed the people of India must be with a man that can double deficit spending in a time of economic expansion.
12
Trump or America doesn't care about India !
He only cares about the $3 billion in defense deals - he wants India to buy more beautiful American weapons !
And he only cares about getting a good trade deal !
For US, India is not a people , it's a market where money is to be made !
50
@Now
He doesn't even care about selling weapons. The only thing he cares about is selling Trump branded Condos in India and the ego stroking at a big rally.
Nothing else matters to him
4
@Now
And there's an abundance of Trump Towers & Hotels in India. This was just featured yesterday in the NYT:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/23/world/asia/india-economy-trump-properties.html
So this tax-payer funded trip is also a "rally" to support his luxury properties amidst a sea of poverty.
5
Born in India and an American citizen for more than my years in India, this spectacle makes me sick. What a farce between the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy.
62
I wonder how much they were PAID to attend ?
Sad.
34
@Phyliss Dalmatian
One wonders how many of them are government employees who were ORDERED to attend. You know, "Show up at the rally, or don't bother showing up for work tomorrow."
That has been done in the US by some companies whose management are Trump supporters, and it has been reported in the press.
12
Kim Jong Un and Adolf Hitler also "reveled in spectacle," held frequent "rallies" and oversized military parades, demanded huge crowds, broadcast propaganda, and denigrated, and then destroyed, people who are/were not completely subservient to them and cultish in their adoration.
The same pattern exists under Trump. We'll see how it turns out.
66
This taxpayer funded Ego Fest is embarrassing to anyone with an IQ over 90
64
Oh great, a festival of autocrats. How useful.
26
It is ironical and hypocritical that the two Islam hatters, Trump and Modi visited an Islamic monument when there are so many Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments in India!!.
20
Modi is a racist authoritarian just like Trump. India is failing as a democracy just like us. India is way in debt just like us. People have nohealoh care and suffer income inequality just like us. Farmers are going bankrupt at a high rate, just like us.Yes we have a lot in common.
32
@Richard Head
Farmers have been going bankrupt in America at high rates since at least the 1980's. More recently, hundredweight milk prices, for example, tumbled in 2006, 2009 and 2015 (while feed costs remained high). Blaming Trump for the rural farming crisis and the domination of industrialized agriculture is, respectfully, rather foolish. If we don't correctly diagnosis the problems there will be no cures. Here's good site from my own state that may put you on the right path:
https://morural.org/
2
Everywhere this childish President goes he says he loves It’s such an idiotic, manipulative, and meaningless thing to say. November can’t get here soon enough.
36
Can he find India on a map?? I hope he doesn't mention Pocahontas.
54
I have serious doubts about the trustworthiness of any foreign leader who eagerly shares a rally podium with President Asterisk, sad to say.
26
This is a transparent grab for Indian-American votes in the US. Dear Indian-Americans, if Trump loves India - and by extension Indians - why do Indians have to wait half a lifetime to acquire their Greencard while many of them are contributing immensely to the US economy under H1B visas for decades?! Don't sell your votes cheap to Trump based on Hindi national pride, demand immigration reform!
31
@Tobias W. And most of Indian Americans are not even Citizens of the USA and those who are mostly support Democrats.
2
Hey, Melania, White is the color of mourning in Hindu society.
49
@May Archer Or of renunciation. I'm venturing a guess that she is closer to the former than to the latter.
4
How much do you want to bet that trump doesn't know that the Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim nobleman.
42
He thinks it a casino in Atlantic City. The one bankrupted.
29
More conman exaggeration - 10M is laughable
18
Donald the hugger. Melania the statue. And Jared and Ivanka are their on our taxpayer money, too.
But no money for food stamps for our poor....
73
@MIMA Go for the Indian solution. Build a wall so that the poor aren't seen.
14
@Donal
It is pretty hard to avoid the poor in India, they are everywhere.
3
Another con job by the master con artist. Anything to sell condos.
32
It would be great if Trump could buy the Taj Mahal and move the entire Trump family there.
20
@George Especially since it is a tomb/memorial to the Muslim builder's wife. All kinds of truths in that one.
3
To deliver CAA and NRC Modi might need a sound economy. And Trump-America might help him to succeed. The next 5 years of the world concerned to me, will be dual path to development for both US and India on a trajectory to high growth; and outrageous conflict on immigration, CAA, NRC and homogenization. Other threats are wildfire, hurricanes, tsunami, earthquakes etc. and some like the latest one which has not made any significant in-roads both in US and India, Covid-19 already reached Italy (Europe), Iran(Middle East), and South Korea with different strains that originated in China.
2
@Dr Partha Pratim Sengupta
Already autocratic countries like Pakistan, China have homogenized, now it is turn to the world largest and oldest democracies to implement homogenization. For that outlandish leaders should exhibit narcissism. The only problem is, any homogenization is an impediment to growth.
1
@Dr Partha Pratim Sengupta
Already autocratic countries like Pakistan, China have homogenized, now it is turn to the world largest and oldest democracies to implement homogenization. For that, outlandish leaders should exhibit narcissism. The only problem is, any homogenization is an impediment to growth. The best example is homogenized Venezuela. The success story of homogenized Scandinavian countries is actually due to diversified and sound education.
1
@Dr Partha Pratim Sengupta
Already autocratic countries like Pakistan, China have homogenized, now it is turn to the world largest and oldest democracies to implement homogenization. For that outlandish leaders should exhibit narcissism. The only problem is, any homogenization is an impediment to growth. The best example is homogenized Venezuela. The success story of homogenized Scandinavian countries is actually due to diversified and sound education.
He was there for a"campaign-style rally". So, once again the Prez uses our tax dollars to hold a campaign rally. His salary is nothing compared to the vast amounts he spends promoting himself. India, you are a favorite now, but one wrong move and...
24
In recent years India has been economically protectionist, and for good reason. With 1.3 billion inhabitants, the population would be ripe for plunder if the doors were opened to powerful outsiders, as it was during the British East India Company from the 16th to 19th Centuries. Is it possible that India's Prime Minister Modi might be ready to remake a similar deal with Trump?
5
If you have to split hairs to emphasize negatives in what was a largely successful and rare open-air appearance by a U.S. President in a foreign land, then you're just revealing how truly meaningless those points are, and the less you will be listened to. Sometimes, credit just needs to be given when due, and the Prime Minister and President deserve some for this event.
10
@David Godinez Every leader knows they have to give Trump a show job if they want to get anywhere. It's all theatre.
5
@David Godinez Kudos for holding a rally? Do you not understand anything about the implications and intentions of this event? Comments are not about splitting hairs but raising them.
4
@etsuko
Hmmm... Please explain what you believe the “implications and intentions” to be....
2
The visit does not solve India's immense problems like overpopulation, unemployment and a leadership that has yet to deliver on its economic promises
13
Every world leader knows how easy it is to play Trump with pomp and flattery. It's what he lives for.
31
It would be interesting to read one positive story about President Trump in the press or on network television after all he has gone for the country in the last 3 years. You are behaving like spoiled children and should know better
10
@Jacky Keith
Please list three positive actions by your president, Jacky. One for each year. Just be sure they are not lies or exaggerations; we get more than enough of that from trump.
5
@Jacky Keith
What has Trump done other than boost the stock market by plunging us further into debt every year with trillion dollar deficits? He spends his days watching Fox News and golfing.
5
@Jacky Keith
Hey, watch Fox and read the NY Post and Washington Examiner, they're the press, too, and are all about how great Trump is. On the other hand, expecting all media to bow down to him is, actually, spoiled childish behavior.
7
Aren't these the same people who took our outsourced tech job, forced us to train our replacements, and moved our jobs to India. Wasn't trump against our jobs going to other countries. Guess he is just in for the admiration and all the cash he can grab. Vote 2020 Blue and get rid of this grifter.
26
I hate Trump but it seems rather petty to have pointed out that he stumbled over some place-name pronounciations.
8
It would be, except from the viewpoint of Trump’s growing issues with balance, gait, coordination, diction, word-finding and impulse control.
I am hoping the Times will cover his possible neurological issues/deterioration.
2
Really? I love India, I have been there and seen it for myself. How many Americans do you know who are bitter, angry and hostile when they get customer service help from a worker in India? You can bet Trump has never been to India before this and if not for being President would never have dreamed of setting foot in India.
6
The most important thing to note is that two-thirds of the crowd left in front of the two would-be strongmen. Pathetic. When Obama, Clinton, Carter, Kennedy and Eisenhower visited the crowds lining the streets were genuine and huge. Trump and Modi can puff themselves as much as they want, and attempt to desecrate Gandhi Ashram - but Indians of all generations know better.
11
@MDuPont Apparently there were musical attractions and performances preceding the big deal appearances, and people seemed to have attended for the music and then walked out. Not much surprise there.
6
Well if Trump is having such a good tine in India, then maybe he should pack up his entire family and move there.
He can start the MIGA party when he settles down.
However India probably has an anti stupid immigration policy which would prevent him from moving there.
5
We ma love India but we unlike Trump are extremely leery of the increasingly authoritarian Modi. Remember first he comes for Muslims when done Christians will be next in his attempt to builds a pure Hindu Nation State
6
@GUANNA
Imagination can be evil. Sometimes it creates illusions that can haunt those who imagine things that do not exist. Modi has not done anything against Muslims after he became the country's leader. He has only restored the uniformity of privileges to all Indians by taking out the special privileges given to Muslims in India, because they are Muslims. Not anymore. Join the queue just like everyone else and wait for your turn.
1
Dear India,
Please keep him.
America
25
Modi is India's version of Trump and to Indians in India who love Modi, they see Trump as the Modi in the US. They mirror each other in many ways: create division within the country; economic benefits to select groups, and overstate progress. The only positive is in the US we can vote Trump out this year or worse case deal with another four years. With Modi, India is stuck with him as long as his party retains control of parliament.
87
@Raj Flashback to 1939; Pro Nationalists rallies ; hate of Minorities;promises of jobs and prosperity; Military and the Flag as Gods.....
3
@Raj Can we not quarantine Air Force One in India Permanently?
6
@Raj
i agree with you except that Modi is not and Indian Trump , just like selfless is not the same as selfless - trump is grifter, who inherited his money, Modi is an almost gandhian ascetic who is as selfless as Trump is selfish. that said I probably share your alarm that modi seems to be surrounding himself with unsavory hindu chauvinists who are a shame to India' secular Republic (Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim Emperor ) , Trump is a selfish chauvinist, seeking only his own welfare.
2
As long as Trump doesn't promise to increase the number of H1b visas, I'm ok. Trade yes, but considering current immigration numbers we need to maintain diversity.
3
@Margo How do we need to maintain diversity with regard to H1B visas?
The article title should have read:
"Trump Loves Gigantic Crowds"
It will be interesting, in light of the recently declining fortunes of the Trump-branded properties, if more of those apartments are sold. If they are, then Mission Successful!
23
An interesting exercise would have been to whip out a world map and have our stable genius point out India on said map.
Any Vegas oddsmakers out there?
36
Trump does not need competent professionals to advise him with respect to international relations. He requires foreign leaders who will stage spectacles worthy of Trump’s self regard—and, in turn, with whom he can curry favor by bolstering their political status on the world stage.
Trump is obviously thrilled to be a guest of Modi. The visit gives him the opportunity to firm up personal ties with yet another anti-democracy strong man. Perhaps after a mutual love fest, Trump and Modi can exchange tips on how to further consolidate power in the executive, how to grease the skids of populist nationalism, how to better utilize government institutions to harass and punish adversaries, and how to more effectively advance the interests of the tribal religionists within their respective voting bases.
Perhaps Trump will invite Modi to Washington D.C. and pay back the Indian Prime Minister for boosting Trump’s ego. But will it be possible to line the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route with 10 million Americans who will enthusiastically shout the praises of a This particular foreign leader?
15
@Andrew G. Bjelland, Sr.
Mr. Modi drew 60,000 people in Houston and 25,000 in NYC- the highest of any foreign leader in US history.
4
@Sam Some Indians that I have met who live in India look down upon the ones who have left for America and Canada- they think that they have taken the easy way out.
Aren't those the type of immigrants that Trump complains about, ones still greatly tied to their home country rather than assimilating?
Do you think that Fidel Castro would have drawn 50,000 cheering Cuban exiles in Miami if he would have ever visited?
Donal Trump has no option but to praise Modi if he wants business of Trump Towers to grow in India. Both leaders believe in populist democracy. The world order is already paying a price at the unpredictable nature of Trump’s vision.
22
@Mohammad Azeemullah Populist Democracy? What these people believe in is anything but Democracy.
3
Yes, nothing says "This country loves you!" like a wall of bullet-proof glass.
46
@ARNP
Obama's limo had bullet-proof glass, As has been true for half a century of American presidents, ever since JFK was shot. Even the Popemobile has bullet-proof glass.
Common sense precautions in this age of armed madmen and extremist haters.
9
@Austin Liberal
It was tongue-in-cheek.
1
Any chance that we can get India to keep trump over there since they love him so much and we hate him? PLEASE.
39
What a farse, two autocrats embracing, all pomp and circunstance, no value added, their abuse of power unperturbed. So, what's there to celebrate...other than two egos in search of grandiosity and applause?
31
Of course there was no mention of Modi's anti-Muslim policies. They line up perfectly with Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric.
25
@Irene Funny that Trump and wife were photographed in front of the Taj Mahal, one of the world's greatest Muslim monuments.
10
I question the accuracy of the last sentence in this article.
9
@John Belniak
Well done!
3
People really do fall for his empty superlative-laden narcissism. Doesn’t say much about us as a species.
18
I wonder how much these "supporters" were paid to attend. I lived in the subcontinent for 8 years and have vivid memories of food and rupees handed out.
28
@Baboulas 200 Indian rupees about $2. The star on Indians...
1
Both leaders are constrained by constitutional restraints . Both countries are constitutional democracies .Both are diverse multi ethnic multi religious democracies At this point in history both can benefit from increased trade
Neither countries especially overcrowded India can allow unrestrained uncontrolled immigration from failed neighboring countries. immigration barriers in both countries are needed for effective governance and cannot be ideological issue
12
@Azad Very good response.
Except we need immigrants.
Don't make it ideological and cruel, when it is ecomomics.
This is the path to righteousness in this human equation.
1
@Azad Perhaps you haven't noticed, but these so-called "constitutional restraints" are going by the wayside in both countries. In both India and America were are witnessing the collapse of constitutional protections, as well as "representative democracy," both harbingers of fascism.
5
Ah, since it's an NYT report, it requires the obligatory: "Mr. Modi has been widely accused of at least tacitly supporting the violence. ... [he] denies those accusations."
No mention of the seemingly consequential piece of evidence that India's Supreme Court cleared Modi of any wrong-doing.
Why bother with facts when a good story will do.
27
@Whatever So the NY Times should not report? Are you suggesting instead that they simply print press releases?
6
@Whatever India Supreme Court on the same par as the US Supreme Court with Roberts at the head. I might add the courts in India who really believes that they are fair in the back pocket of Mr. Modi. Gee, Muslims not even considered citizens anymore sound familiar. One last note Roberts when he presided over the Impeachment did have the power to call witnesses - how did that work out. Jim Trautman
8
Are there any similarities between the Indian Supreme Court and the United States Republican Senate?
Asking for general reasons of legitimacy.
2
Oh, come on – folks below/ –whether you agree with him or not – he was received with such enthusiasm is because he is our POTUS. And this reflects well in America.
I am in Mumbai.
The tv coverage started almost 6 hours before he touched down –and 12 hours later, it's still going on.
As to crowds leaving early – this is par for the course in India.
First, many want to escape traffic jams to get home as most depend on public transport.
The other reason is – it was not clear from tv if it was being simultaneously translated though it appeared there was a huge tv screen with a running translation.
But as big as that stadium is – not sure, if folks could actually read it – especially given the bright sun.
As to folks believing in this POTUS and comparing the prime minister favorably – remember, this is home state. And this state is known to be Texas proud in American lingo.
As to Eisenhower crowd, the report is incorrect as Indian tv related the event.
Indians count 100,000 as 1,00,000 (1 lakh) – and there is often a confusion with lakhs and millions.
According to this tv – indeed the bench mark is to get 1 lakh as in Eisenhower case – and it appears the prime minister delivered it.
As an American living here - I think the whole day was a great day for India and America relations.
Difficult issues can be discussed but sheer enthusiasm of Indians here cannot hide the fact that this is a very successful visit.
19
@Neil Great reply.
5
@Neil
As to tv coverage, the servile media, owned mostly by big businesses, surviving at the mercy of the capricious policies of Modi government, would have sent, if they could, a plane flying parallel to Trump’s plane and shown it live on their channels: not to please Trump but Modi.
6
@Neil Thanks..You are an optimist man..Enjoy India..
This is amazing and so glad to see that at least one nation recognizes the courageousness and abilities of our President.
10
@Nature LOL
6
@Nature They may have him!
5
@Nature I hope that is sarcasm.
6
Why would Trump care about Modi’s anti-Muslim immigration policies? Trump’s very first executive order was what he called a total and complete ban on Muslims entering the United States. In fact, why would anyone in the US care about anti-Muslim animus after the US Supreme Court upheld Trump’s Muslim ban? Chief Justice John Roberts wrote it’s A-okay, as long as you put a figleaf of “national security” over it.
137
@Sherry The amendment to the Indian Citizenship Act was to enable fast tracking of citizenship to non-muslims seeking refuge from persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. This is similar to The Lautenberg Amendment in the USA helps certain persecuted religious minorities in the erstwhile Soviet Union get US citizenship. The amendment was extended to include ‘persecuted minorities’ from Iran in 2004, through the Specter Amendment. No body has accused that these amendments are against the majority populations of the erstwhile Soviet Union or Iran.
Incidentally, there is no bar for muslim citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan getting Indian citizenship. Only, they will wait in line with citizens of other nations, such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar etc, to get it. Indeed several muslims from Pakistan have recently got Indian citizenship.
..
61
@Santosh
I couldn't have said it better. Thank you.
Yes, the Citizenship Amendment Act in India has been grossly misrepresented to the world by political opponents of Modi.
There is a need to distinguish between economic migrants and refugees. Muslims from Pakistan and Bangladesh entering India are economic migrants. however, non-Muslims from those countries are refugees because they face persecution in their country of origin.
In Pakistan, marriage between Hindus wasn't acknowledged till 2017 and blasphemy laws used against religious minorities are embedded in the constitution. All these decades, no one in the West had a problem with these policies. But when India improves citizenship prospects for genuine refugees, then it is India which is labelled as sectarian...
59
@Jack and @Santosh You both conveniently ignore the fact that certain Muslim sects are being hunted down and killed within Pakistan. Don't the Ahamadis and other Sufis deserve compassion and asylum in India? And whatever happened to the motto that Guests are to be treated as Gods?
6
I’d vote for less crowd size coverage and more speech content description. Although it’s likely both speeches were pretty lightweight, it’s a more interesting topic.
3
Whether or not Modi is in awe with Trump is another discussion. The Indian Prime Minister once said on a television interview that he is very close to Obama. Modi knows exactly how to please Trump. Bring large number of people in the newly inaugurated cricket stadium, give him a campaign style rally. Fill every seat in the stadium, it is not so hard with a 1.3 billion population. Give him something to brag about for months.
154
@ALN hope it works. India could do with some more outsourcing. Microsoft just announced its 3rd centre in India.
2
@ALN
The president sure looks happy...the crowd numbers, the clapping, the bands, the staging. Even the First Lady dressed the part today.
Perhaps when he is deposed in November, they'll visit there sometime.
Is there a Trump Taj Palace Hotel?
3
Sorry Gandhi, for we let these two tyrants stepped into your auspicious home. They don't uphold the values of peace, tolerance, and unity, and their politics are diametrically opposed to yours. We won't let them dole out injustices under your name.
252
@Ari Well said
9
@Ari
You wrote ' Sorry, Gandhi, for we let these two tyrants stepped into your auspicious home'.
Who is ' we' ?
The icons of the universal virtue of humble humane empathy of our era are Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Neither Narendra Modi nor Donald Trump can be blamed on divine royal sanction selection nor an armed uniformed military coup. Both men were elected by the votes of their ethnic sectarian majority men and women fellow tribe members.
Modi represents the Hindu ethnocentric majority that voted for him.
Trump represents the 58% of the white European American voting majority including 62% of white men and 54% of white women who elected him.
Trump doesn't represent the 92% of the black African American voting minority including 88% of black women and 95% of black women who voted for Hillary Clinton.
Gandhi didn't accept the divine natural equal certain unalienable rights of life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness of black South Africans.
5
@Ari I sympathize with you for being apologetic to Gandhi. You seem to be little behind in catching up with history. Like Stalin-Lenin in Russia, Mao in China, Nelson Mandela in South Africa, great statesmen once revered have been buried in their own soil. Indians have now woken up to the realization that the non-violent, kind niceties of great souls like Gandhi's were well abused by people like Jinnah, and their modern day Islamist-Leftist followers. Modi took up many of Gandhi's ideals including cleaning up India as a national priority that were ignored so far. He wishes to bring some order to a very chaotic country where any one from anywhere can come down, settle and integrate into the work force or fuse into the mafia or underworld to eke out a living or to make a fortune. Many of our friends in the West wonder what happened to the pious great Hindu motto implying the guests or the refugees were like Gods and must be treated as such. Well, the times have changed. Unchecked and unaccounted inflow of settlers put pressure on the economic, medical and utilities services provided by the governments. They run those programs with tax-payers money. The new settlers can change the local demography thereby positioning themselves as smart political manipulators in electoral politics. India still keeps the soul of Gandhi while trying to grapple with the very intractable problems of the modern day world. The 800 m. country of Gandhi has morphed into 1.3 b. Come and help, if you can.
6
Perhaps next will be a photo of trump standing next to Krishna in the chariot.
20
@steven
"Some people say I may be the greatest archer since Arjuna.I'm not sure, but that's what people are saying."
Trump's speeches write themselves.
6
Another Trump Properties marketing excursion, paid for by US taxpayers.
128
What Modi is doing to India is similar to what Trump is doing to America. Attacking ethnic/religious minorities to win the adulation of the shrinking current majority.. Demagogues rise high until are hung from lampposts as they finally incite Revolution. Within the next year it is likely that both Trump and Modi will be greeting each other on the ash pile of history.
29
@RLW And your basis of saying this about Prime Minister Modi and President Trump is?
President Trump is opposed to unfettered illegal immigration. Prime Minister modi wants to award Indian citizenship to minorities from neighboring countries. How is that bad? Don't just get wrapped up in what news outlets feed you.
4
To put it in context, according to the most recent count in population India had 1.37 billion as of 2019. This means that the attendance if it was 100,000 plus another 100,000 that could not enter the stadium (just to give the benefit of doubt), represents only the 0.000145 % of the population.
How impressive! Remember that he wished once upon a time: "Why don't we get more immigrants from Norway"
There you have it! and don't forget that he is building the most "beautiful" and "taller" border wall, which demonstrates his "love" for immigrants".
Good grief!!
11
@Sawa
There is something called television in India and the number of people watching is likely in the millions!
6
@Raul Campos someday they will learn that the only reason to watch Trump on TV is to fact check in hopes of saving the country.
2
@ondelette
The facts are that Trump is winning and the facts are that the Democrats are now the Socialist Democratic Party.
1
"Two Great Democracies at the World's Biggest Cricket Stadium".
Well one fact is right, the other is at the present time, questionable.
13
@Yosemite Sam
The US has its institutions showing spine.
India’s judiciary and media (and other institutions) have collapsed, leaving us as a only a facade of a sham democracy.
7
@bharath alas we could be better though and with the current administration working tirelessly to upend said institutions, I wonder how long some of them will hold out.
Trump loves India...as long as Indians stay in India.
When it comes to promising them something from the US, it will all be lip service and then nothing will happen. Ask the coal miners he promised jobs.
Unless Trump can get everything he wants from them and give nothing in return. Then, he would love to support Modi's treatment of Muslims in India.
18
@Joe Trump never promised coal miners jobs. He promised coal mine owners profits.
3
What on earth kind of reporting is this? Repeated references to sectarian violence - as if they are the creation of Modi, or Modi-Trump relationship. Sectarian violence in India began in 644AD, it continues. Imagine some European head of state visiting the US to a rousing welcome, and NYT reported that this was really about white supremacists in the country, and dirty water in Flint - and the visit therefore was oh so filled with mirth. That instead of 1 million greeters, there were only 500,000. What of it? Get a perspective.
For what it is worth, given the region of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, and China - each of whom brings a unique (if not equal) nuisance value to the globe, the US-India relationship of trade is a worthy cause. India remains a noisy democracy despite all odds; virtually no one else in the region that matters - is. This is what the two leaders are doing - regardless of what you think of them personally.
68
@Kalidan "virtually no one else in the region that matters" That matters? What does that matters mean exactly? And who is the democracy that doesn't matter?
9
@Spartan To Modi and his followers no one matters unless they share their views.
3
@Spartan
Okay, I'll bite:
Pakistan: not a democracy; an army that owns a country.
China: if I have to explain this, there is no point. Not a democracy.
Nepal: monarchy, trampling ground of China and Pakistan
Bangladesh: Islamic republic
Myanmar: Basket case
Afghanistan: wholly owned subsidiary of Pakistani Military.
Sri Lanka: wholly owned subsidiary of China.
Hope that explains how and why India is the only democracy in the region.
Now to what matters. Let me see, free elections. Prevention of an Islamic takeover of the republic.
Hope that clears it up for you.
15
The real impact of these extravaganza is in the US. A vast number of South Asians in Florida voted him. That made the difference in the past elections. He needs them to win Florida again!
28
@SridharC strange that. The South Asians here in California voted deep, deep blue.
6
@ondelette Florida is not California.
So funny, Mr. Trump saying America loves India. Most Americans think that natives from India that visit the US are actually Latinos. My fellow Indian graduate students were told by a bar crowd, in Buffalo, to go back to Mexico.
158
@Milque Toast, unfortunately yes, open and subtle racism against India's visitors (and Americans with a background from India) is now under Trump's aegis not only rampant in bars, but pervading in the Homeland Security and the USCIS crowd. The lives of thousands of hard working immigrants, engineers and doctors, experts and PhDs, have been mistreated and their lives upended by Trump's anti-immigration policies, who are keeping these individuals and their families apart, in fear of H1-B harrassment, etc.
6
@Milque Toast And very few Americans know the difference between an Indian and a Pakastani!
3
@Milque Toast There are even Americans who think they are Muslims and treat them like they are!
2
India's municipal governments don't even provide clean drinking and bathing water to all its citizens.
38
And sadly, neither do we here. Flint, MI, Indian reservations across the Southwest, Alaskan villages only accessible by air, to name a few.
28
@Lucius Claypole
Are you under the belief that all municipally supplied water in the USA is safe? I sometimes visit Somerset County, New Jersey in the summer. Water is sourced from the Raritan River. There is so much chlorine in it, I feel like I am showering in swimming pool water. And its undrinkable.
21
You're citing exception cases, we can be somewhat complacent because the vast majority of us have municipal water that IS safe. This is not the same in all countries.
3
Vulture politics, and showmanship.
Sad.
93
@Phyliss Dalmatian, no actually the Indian vultures are a threatened species.
@Phyliss Dalmatian
"Vulture politics" - mixes well with Vulture capitalism, don't you think?
trump feels right at home in the land where bribery is how normal business is done.
Meanwhile while most heads of governments are concerned about coronavirus trump is concerned about himself, for trump its a “well deserved” vacation from the strenuous responsibilities of caring for his subjects back home.
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As a Canadian, I'm devastated. Not long ago I thought we reached the low point when trump and his minions claimed we were a national security threat to the USA. I believed trump's declaration of love for Kim would pass. But this! America's declaration of love for India. Never saw that that coming. Oh well, life will go on.
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@RNS please accept the word of this American that the U.S. does not consider Canada to be a terrorist threat, only Trump.
5
@RNS As a Canadian too, I didn't understand what a fellow Canadian was "devastated" about. Even in common protocol, when the head of a state visits a country, he or she expresses love on behalf of their people.
German's were also Forced to attend rallies in the 1930's, history repeating itself and that's not good.
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@AzTraveler The Nazi party was the winner in the July, 1932, federal election -- an open and, by all accounts, free election.
The Germans chose to be Nazis. They reaped what they sowed.
The only reason Germany was resurrected after WWII was as a bulwark against Stalin's political invasion of Europe. But for that: We should have sowed the land with salt and dispersed its people among the nations. After two wars: Germany should have ceased to exist.
1
Dog and pony show to hide everything that is wrong with both the leaders
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@RSB - A dog and pony show indeed, but which one is the dog and which one the pony?
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@MJM
Does it real matter? Dog and pony both in each one of them.
@RSB My friend in India informed me that Government workers were given day-off to attend the mandatory rally, people were given free bus ride to the rally, paid to attend the rally.
Nothing new in this part of the world, it happens in Pakistan/India all the time during political rallies.
Maybe Trump can take a cue, if God forbid, if he is re-elected he can swell attendance to his inauguration using the same trick. A nightmare scenario for US.
1
I would support giving him to the Indian people as a permanent gift. He will likely renovate the Taj Mahal and put his name on it.
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@L S Herman Yes. And his renovation would no doubt include red velvet curtains and cheesy gold fixtures...a la 'bordello revival'.
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@L S Herman
He would go bankrupt and need Putin to bail him out again.
5
@L S Herman
No, thank you. India is trying its best to keep out one deadly contagion like Corona virus. It does not need a more deadly nation killing virus imported from another country.
9
Trump Loves crowd and Modi providing him with that.
India is suffering from Modi’s nationalistic views but Modi does not care as long as his is trump’s buddy.
Not much difference from trump except Modi is a bodybuilder.
28
America, or at least third American, decidedly does NOT love India, not under this dictator, not under the legislatures that have gleefully granted him authority to persecute minorities and impose his own values on the rest of the nation. India used to be on my bucket list. The failures to improve the desperate and unsanitary lives of the poor while the PM and his ilk grow ever richer, turned me off.
Honest, I didn’t mean for that to sound so familiar.
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@Ed Pittsburgh Please do visit Ahmedabad soon. They might keep the wall up so the slums are not seen. What a joke!
2
Typical Trump nonsense:
1. "This will be the biggest event India has ever held for a foreign politician." No, it isn't; not even close.
2. "There are 125,000 people here today." Nope. Stadium holds 110,000.
Can't wait to hear the lies Trump tells about this trip when he comes home.
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@Vesuviano 125,000 is your garden variety agitation crowd in India. During my childhood days in India, when its population used to be half of the present, i have witnessed rallies that had reported 5 million participants.
1
They love you trump! They love you!
If I were you, I'd move there. You deserve to
be where you are appreciated and loved!
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@bill , Best comment of the day!
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This plus a dollar will get you a cup of coffee.
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Trump would have a hard time finding India, Pakistan and Bangladesh on a map. The third wife (second trophy wife) went for a Taj Mahal photo op which allowed a wardrobe change from her WH garb, the sons are probably in the north shooting trophy beasts, and the sweat-shop frequenting daughter will be in the process of scoping out child labour. The daughter with the second wife (first trophy wife) is apparently very busy in law school (indeed) and cannot attend the festivities. A dignified and enthralling visit, to be sure.
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@KennethWmM Spot on! Thank-you!
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@k richards I am left baffled as to why you think Ivana was not a trophy wife.
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@KennethWmM Costume change? Will Melania be wearing her "I don't care, do you?" ensemble? And Trump his "Flattery will get you anywhere" hat?
3
He loves India as long as they line his pockets.
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Always a good day for Trump when he gets to spend it with another authoritarian.
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@Jack
Maybe query the Muslims that are beaten regularly by Modi's thugs. We have elections (free?), Congress and the Supreme Court. How's that working under Trump? Don't ask the cult members.
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@J. Colby
Hi, you have raised a good point about Muslims being beaten up. Wherever there is more than one religion/ethnicity, there exists the potential for persecution or discrimination.
However, India has always striven to overcome its imperfections. Since it became a republic in 1950 (3 years after independence), it has had a secular constitution. In fact, I would argue India is more than secular. There were constitutional provisions in the Indian constitution for Muslims specifically which went beyond secularism in itself (e.g. quotas in premier educational institutions). All these considerations were made even after India had been divided along religious lines (Pakistan was carved out as a separate homeland for Muslims as per the demands of the Muslim League).
Still, India couldn't practise genuine secularism even while Pakistan openly made Shariah the law of the land. Attempts by Nehru to implement a Uniform Civil Code applicable to all citizens (regardless of caste, creed or religion) were abandoned due to pressure from the Muslim clergy. The result is that India today remains a secular country only in name.
Also, measures meant to help Muslims (e.g. quotas in universities) were only meant to be temporary but have stayed for decades as various political parties chose to cultivate Muslims as a vote bank unfortunately.
What Modi has done essentially is to roll back extra-constitutional provisions gradually, meaning India is more secular than it was.
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@Jack
"I suggest you educate yourself about India a bit. Do you know how many states in India are governed by parties opposed to Modi's BJP?
How do you define an authoritarian? Can you name and elaborate on a specific policy by Modi which has made India more authoritarian?"
The answers to your questions were given in the television show "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVIXUhZ2AWs
Jack, I suggest you educate yourself a bit more.
10