First meeting between PM Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump is aimed at building a personal rapport
Highlights
- PM Modi, on first US visit after Trump took office, to meet him today
- Trump has received detailed briefings on India ahead of meet
- He has also picked up Hindi words to greet PM Modi, says key supporter
Officials in India and the United States have worked hard and long to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to the White House during the Trump presidency a success. Ahead of their first meeting on Monday afternoon, US President Donald J Trump has received detailed briefings on India and relations between the two countries including the growing defence cooperation.
He has also picked up a smattering of Hindi that he is expected to show off during his meeting with PM Modi, and later.
"Donald Trump is learning Hindi words for the meeting with Prime Minister Modi... He will say Trump Sarkar welcomes Modi Sarkar," said
Chicago industrialist Shalabh "Shalli" Kumar, who was considered the chief architect of the
presidential candidate outreach to the Indian-American community last year.
It was during this fiercely-contested election campaign that the billionaire candidate had adapted PM Modi's catchy election slogan for the 2014, "
Ab ki baar Modi Sarkaar" (This time, a Modi government) to "
Ab ki baar Trump Sarkar" in a 30-second commercial to reach out to
Indian Americans.
At his White House interaction, President Trump is expected to go further.
"That is just the start of a great relationship," said Mr Kumar, pointing out that Mr Trump had been briefed adequately about the Indian PM. "He has through me, as well on his own, enough people (to brief him)... he knows Prime Minister Modi really well," he said.
The White House chief strategist Steve Bannan has "studied Modi" and "they already know where Modi stands, where he wants to take India," Mr Kumar said.