After Wharton snub, Narendra Modi to address Indian diaspora in USA

Washington: After being dropped by the Wharton Business School as a keynote speaker at one of its events, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is now expected to address the Indian diaspora in the states of Edison, New Jersey, Chicago, Illinois in the US through a video conference facility.

"Narendra Modi live speech, Edison, New Jersey, Chicago, Illinois on March 09, 2013 from 7-9 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)," reads a scroll on the website of the Overseas Friends of the BJP USA.

"Narendrabhai will address the Indian diaspora LIVE from Karnavati (Ahmedabad)," the portal states.

The Wharton Business School, which on Sunday night dropped Mr Modi as the keynote speaker at its India Economic Forum to be held later this month, is yet to decide on who will replace the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal will address the event via video conference. "It has been reported in some sections of the media that I have replaced Mr Narendra Modi. I think this is not correct. I have been in talks with them for the past 15 days. As far as I am concerned, these are two different events," he said.

Advertisement

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, and Junior Education Minister Shashi Tharoor are other prominent politicians who have reportedly been approached to attend the conference on March 22-23, which is organised largely by students. In the past, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been invited to address the forum; some sources say he was asked this year as well.

Mr Modi was dropped unceremoniously on Sunday night from the event because of pressure from the prestigious business school's management and alumni. In an apparent show of loyalty, the Adani Group, which is headquartered in Gujarat, pulled out on Monday night as the main sponsor of the Wharton India Economic Forum.

Advertisement

A signature campaign at Wharton lobbied stridently against Mr Modi's visit because of the communal riots in Gujarat in 2002.