PM's US visit: Modi's grand reception in New York reflects deep cultural ties: White House

WASHINGTON: The "rock-star" treatment given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the prestigious Madison Square Garden by some 20,000 Indian-American people is the reflective of the "deep cultural ties" between the two countries, the White House has said.

"I think the strong turnout at that event and the enthusiastic reaction highlights the deep cultural ties that exist between the United States and India; that there are so many immigrants from India to the United States that are now interwoven into communities all across the countries," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said yesterday.

He was responding to questions about the historic turnout of some 20,000 Indian diaspora who had turned up from various parts of the country to attend the reception for Modi at the prestigious MSG in New York City on Sunday.

"I think that just highlights one other way in which the relationship between our two countries is so important," Earnest said.

On Sunday, Modi joined a long but exclusive list of international singers and film stars among others who have spoken at the iconic Madison Square Garden. Modi was perhaps the first international delegate from a country to speak at this venue, which opened on February 11, 1968.