At Trump’s India rally, Modi bets on image boost
AHMEDABAD, India — A festive mood has enveloped Ahmedabad in India’s northwestern state of Gujarat ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting there on Monday with President Donald Trump, whom he has promised millions of adoring fans.
The rally in Modi’s home state may help displace his association with deadly antiMuslim riots in 2002 that landed him a U.S. travel ban. It may also distract Indians, at least temporarily, from a slumping economy and ongoing protests over a new citizenship law that excludes Muslims. But beyond the pageantry and symbolism of the visit, experts expect little of substance to be achieved for either side.
“For Modi, Trump’s visit to India offers a useful distraction from the domestic political tumult playing out across the country,” said Micheal Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the U.S.-based Wilson Center. “I don’t think the visit will have much impact on domestic politics in either country.”
To welcome Mr. Trump, who last year likened Mr. Modi to Elvis Presley for his crowd-pulling power at a joint rally the two leaders held in Houston, the Gujarat government has spent almost $14 million on ads that show them holding up their hands, flanked by the Indian and U.S. flags.
It also scrambled to build a wall to hide a slum along a road that Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump will take, caught stray dogs, planted exotic trees and is rushing to finish a cricket stadium in time for Mr. Trump’s arrival. Mr. Trump has said Mr. Modi has promised between 6 million and 10 million people will attend the rally, although authorities expect closer to 100,000.