WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will attend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Houston on Sept 22 to emphasize the strong ties between the two countries, the White House confirmed on Monday.

The event — “Howdy, Modi!” — will be the first ever rally to be jointly addressed by a US president and Indian prime minister.

The White House said President Trump will travel to Houston, Texas, and Wapakoneta, Ohio, on Sunday to “underscore the important partnerships between the United States and India, and Australia.” “In Houston, President Trump will participate in an event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India,” the White House said.

“The event, ‘Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures,’ is expected to draw tens of thousands of people.”

The White House described the event as “a great opportunity to emphasize the strong ties between the people of the United States and India (and) to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies.”

The two leaders will also utilize this opportunity to “discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship,” the White House added.

President Trump will then travel to Wapakoneta, Ohio, where he will be joined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia for a tour of a new, Australian-owned manufacturing facility.

Delighted by Mr Trump’s gesture, Mr Modi took to Twitter on Monday to thank the US leader and said he was delighted that Mr Trump will be attending his event.

“The special gesture of President [Trump] to join us in Houston highlights the strength of the relationship and recognition of the contribution of the Indian community to American society and economy,” Mr Modi tweeted.

A group called “Friends of Kashmir,” however, has planned a peaceful counter-rally in Houston the same day to protect India’s illegal Aug 5 decision to annex Kashmir.

The organisers said they intend to hold the rally as planned, while US security officials urged the protesters to maintain a safe distance from the original rally.

This would be President Trump’s third meeting with the Indian prime minister in less than a year, indicating America’s growing interest in India as an ally it believes could counter China’s growing influence in Asia.

The White House announcement ignores a string of protests from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers criticizing the Indian government’s moves on Kashmir. More than 20 lawmakers have also petitioned President Trump to use his close relationship with Mr. Modi to demand an end to detentions and the communication lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir that followed the Aug 5 action.

Some lawmakers also urged Mr. Trump to use his influence to defuse the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, pointing out that another war between the two neighboring states could have devastating consequences for the entire world as both have acquired nuclear weapons since their last war.

On Monday, Republican Texan Senator John Cornyn confirmed his attendance via Twitter. Mr. Cornyn co-founded the Senate India Caucus in 2004 with then-Senator Hillary Clinton, and currently co-chairs it with Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat. Senator Ted Cruz and some US House members from Texas also plan to attend.

The Indian media reported on Monday that the Indian and US officials have been in touch over Mr. Trump’s participation in the Houston rally since Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump met at the G-20 summit in France last month. A report by an Indian news service, The Wire, said the two leaders would likely announce a trade deal while in Houston.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2019