Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses supporters in NYC, speaks at different forums around US

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Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on a multi-city visit to the US, made his last stop in New York, addressing supporters at the Javits Center June 4, 2023.

He praised non-resident Indians for their contributions to India and their adopted country, and as one of the leaders of the main opposition party, he predictably criticized the current Indian government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

At the Javits Center, Gandhi said to the crowd, estimated by organizers at around 4,000, “It gives me tremendous strength when I see you. In your heart, there is India—the India that believes in love and respect for each other. Mohabbat wala Hindustan! ”

Gandhi arrived in the US on May 30, and traveled to San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York City. During his six-day trip he met politicians, business leaders, students, as well as Congress Party supporters.

He met students at Stanford University, California, and also held a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC) in Washington, D.C. during his visit.

In San Francisco, at an event entitled “Mohabbat Ki Dukan” attended by around 1,000 people, Gandhi praised the Indian diaspora. And in all venues, he recognized the contributions of non-resident Indians.

At the National Press Club, Rahul Gandhi was described by Cary O’Reilly, vice chair of the Events Committee, as one of the ‘fiercest critics’ of the present government. O’Reilly also noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s very high popularity ratings in various polls, including those that showed Modi was the most popular among leaders around the globe.

Rahul Gandhi spoke of his Jodo Yatra, unemployment, income inequality, and India’s “robust democracy,” at the NPC, adding, “I love my people, in particular, the people who are struggling. I have a bias toward them,” he said. “I’ve grown up with a narrative, a Gandhian narrative of what the country is, what it should look like, what’s important. That’s what drives me.”

To the audience at the Javits Center, Rahul Gandhi said, “All the giants that have emerged from India, you can see that there were certain qualities that all of them possessed. Firstly, they searched for, represented and fought for the truth. Secondly, all these people were humble, and there was no arrogance in them. That is how Indians have worked in the US, and that’s why Indians are successful here. I respect and honor you for that,” Gandhi said in New York.

Sam Pitroda, the global chairman, of IOC, spoke about the need to awaken and work with vigilance for a better future for India, a press release from IOC-USA said.  The IOC, he said, was in 30 countries now, and it would counter misinformation and propaganda. “Future belongs to science,” Pitroda said, taking aim at allegations that BJP was changing education curricula. He also led the meeting to observe a minute of silence in the memory of those who perished in the Odisha train collision.

General Convenor of the meeting, Pradeep Samala, thanked Rahul Gandhi along with all the dignitaries who were present on the dais. He thanked all the IOC officials and volunteers who made the meeting successful. He especially thanked John Joseph, chairman of the Hospitality Committee for the June 3 reception at the Terrace on the Park in Flushing meadow in Queens, New York.

Many Congress leaders from India also spoke at the June 4 event, including Deependar Hooda, Mani Shankar Iyer, Revanth Reddy, Vijender Singh, Rudra Raju Guduru, Madhu Yakshi, Amarinder Singh Warring, Venkat Reddy, Komati Reddy, Arathi Krishna, Punnala Lakshmaya, Neelima Kota, Alka Lamba.

Dilip Chouhan, the Deputy Commissioner of New York City, also spoke, the press release said.

Also present on the stage were other leaders of IOC including  John Joseph, Phuman Singh, Leela Maret, Thomas Mathew, Rajeshwar Reddy, Ram Gadula, Peter Kothari, Harkesh Thakur, Amar Singh Gulshan, Gurpeet Singh, Kulraj Grewal, Baljinder Singh Kundu, Gurmeet Singh Gill, Gurmit Singh Buttar, Rajinder Dichpally, Nikhil Thagadur, Pawan Darsi, Kawaljit Kaur and Sandeep Vangala, Sharath Chandra Vemuguti,

General Secretary of IOC-USA, Sophia Sharma, was the emcee.