The US President Donald Trump and First Lady, Melania Trump will be on a two-day visit to India on February 24 and 25. While the visit is being seen as a crucial one given that a number of deals are likely to be signed across a range of sectors, it also assumes a lot of importance given the kind of global coverage that it is again to receive.
With all eyes across the world set on the US President during his India visit, New Delhi has a wonderful opportunity to showcase its grandeur and glory throughout his official visit to the country.
India has also seemed to have got her strategy right. The highlight of the much-anticipated visit is going to be the joint rally to be organised at the Motera Cricket Stadium, the world’s largest, in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. ‘Namaste Trump!‘ as the event is being called is set to see a full house crowd of 1.10 lakh people.
Trump’s route to the iconic stadium will have tens of thousands of citizens and artistes showcasing the performing states of different states and Union Territories. The event is thus going to showcase the rich diversity and cultural legacy of India, even as the entire world will be witnessing and covering Trump’s historic visit to India.
According to Harsh Vardhan Shringla, present Foreign Secretary and former US Ambassador, “It (‘Namaste Trump!’) will be similar to the landmark ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event hosted by the Indian-American community in honour of Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Houston in September 2019, in which President Trump participated.”
The event will add to the glory of the stadium and the state of Gujarat. Apart from this mega event in Ahmedabad, a number of other events are going to form part of Trump’s visit.
From Ahmedabad, the President and First Lady of the United States will leave for Agra in Uttar Pradesh, where they will spend one hour at the famous, Medieval era monument- Taj Mahal before the Sunset. The visuals will again add to India’s glory and her tourism potential. There can be no better PR for India than the most powerful man on the world being covered throughout his tour across some iconic Indian monuments.
Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Agra after 4 PM on February 24, where he will visit the Taj Mahal and also attend a cultural function. The monument will remain closed for tourists on February 24.
Finally, the US President will leave for Delhi, along with his wife, Melania Trump. In the National Capital, they will be afforded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the morning of February 25.
From Rashtrapati Bhavan, the couple will head for Rajghat and pay homage at the ‘Samadhi’ of Mahatama Gandhi. The delegation level talks that will follow between President Trump and PM Modi will be held at the Hyderabad House.
The visit is going to be brief and last for less than 36 hours. However, New Delhi has made it a point to ensure that the visit remains intense and India draws full leverage out of the opportunity.
PM Modi and the US President are some of the most popular political leaders across the world. As such, the global media and the US media will give a lot of coverage to the visit, and therein lies the potential for India to showcase its grandeur and glory.
When Xi Jinping, the President of China had visited India last year for the Mamallapuram Summit, PM Modi had made it a point to showcase the Tamil culture in its full glory. It was used as an opportunity to strongly push for greater tourism in the region.
Now, Donald Trump’s visit to India is obviously a much bigger occasion and India is doing the right thing by not missing out on it. Shringla too has emphasised upon it, by saying, “President Trump’s visit will be brief but intense, with all essential elements of a State visit, and two additional legs in Ahmedabad and Agra, all squeezed into less than 36 hours.”
Donald Trump’s India visit is therefore going to be a great opportunity for showcasing India’s grandeur and glory.