PM Modi holds Indian diaspora in his heart, and Indian Americans empower the Motherland: BJP leader Vijay Jolly

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Jolly, known popularly as ‘Bharat’s Brand Ambassador’, in an interview September 17, on ITV Gold, with host Piya Jyoti Kachroo, said Prime Minister Modi has a special place in his heart for Indian Americans, and that the Indian diaspora empowers India.

On the eve of the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to New York September 21-23, Jolly dwelt on the impact the Indian leader has had on India and the world, and his close connection to Indian Americans and the rest of the diaspora.

Others present at the interview were Digant Sompura, convenor of foreign affairs for BJP Gujarat, and Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold.

Dr. Parikh called Jolly his old friend, and also the mover and shaker in the building of the Ayodhya temple. An interesting fact shared by Dr. Parikh was that water from the rivers of the world were sent to Jolly to be used at the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ at the temple grounds.

Sompura, who is also the CEO of the Indian branch of Parikh Worldwide Media, spoke of the takeaways from the Modi visit.

“PM Modi tries to strum the heart-strings of the Indian Diaspora whenever he visits abroad,” noted Jolly, “He always has one responsibility – to convey that this world is one big family or ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam.’

“Bharat’s PM Modi also undertakes to address and meet and have a dialog with America’s non resident Indians, who have brought laurels to Mother India with their hard work, zeal and enthusiasm,” Jolly noted.

“I have visited 94 countries of the world as a volunteer of the BJP, and I have the pulse of the people at large, especially in the US. I have come here to cheer up our great leader as he addresses the Indians in New York,” Jolly said during the interview.

Sompura said that Modi has visited many countries, but the echoes of his visit and meetings in the US are different than those of other countries. This was Sompura’s first opportunity to hear Modi speak outside Gujarat, and he said he will take back

To Gujaratis back home how widespread Modi’s influence is in the US.

Dr. Parikh, who was a major sponsor of the September event at Nassau Coliseum, said the excitement among Indian Americans was high and volunteers had been working for the past two months to make the occasion of Modi’s address to some 15,000 people, a success.

“He is a great world leader and a great Prime Minister who has happened to India in 75 years. We are all proud of him,” Dr. Parikh said.

“The Indian diaspora has a special role and they always empower Mother India,” said Jolly. “Dr. Sudhir Parikh is not only a co-sponsor” of the event, but he accompanied Presidents Bill Clinton  and George Bush to India in their delegations. “People like Parikh motivate thousands and thousands and thousands of youngsters, business entrepreneurs, professionals, lawyers, doctors, computer fanatics on the overseas soil. That is getting India much closer to the US,” Jolly said.

Jolly also spoke of how India has helped countries around the globe who may be facing natural disasters or other crises. Even during the Corona pandemic, India supplied medicines to 99 countries in the last 10 years Modi has visited more than 125 countries of the world, expanding India’s diplomacy, India’s connectivity, India’s business.

“So ‘Modi Hai To Mumkin Hai’ or ‘It is possible if there is Modi’- That is the confidence which Prime Minister Modi’s persona exemplifies all over the globe and especially on the overseas soil,” Jolly added.

Sompura spoke of his experience at the airport on landing in the US. When immigration officials asked him the purpose of his visit, he told them he had come to attend PM Modi’s publica meeting. “It was surprising that the immigration officer joined his hands in Namaste and said, “Welcome to America”,” Sompura said, adding it was a matter of great pride that Modi was so well known.

Jolly spoke about PM Modi’s impact on everyone. “I have come all on my own spending out of my own pocket for the ticket. Nothing taken from the Bharatiya Janata Party and neither from the Indian government. We are self motivated souls, to cheer, to clap (for) my great dynamic Prime Minister.”

According to Jolly, Modi has accomplished more than any other Prime Minister of India in the last 60 years.

Jolly, noting the ongoing campaign for President in the US, whoever wins, whether Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump or the Democratic Presidential nominee Kamla Harris, “India will always have the best relationship with whosoever, whichever party, and whichever candidate comes to the fore.”

He also said India believes in a cohesive strategic partnership with the US, and credited the Indian American citizens with having the power to decide who would be the next president.

“The large Indian Diaspora has the power to elect the next President of US. We are very happy to talk to them. My only message to them is,in whatever way you can perform for the Democracy of your adopted country, do it diligently, honestly and actively.”