Narendra Modi speech at Madison Square Garden nothing less than a victory lap

Some described it as a political theatre, others compared it to an election campaign rally and many more likened it to a victory lap. Call it by any name but there was no doubt that the reception hosted by Indian Americans for prime minister Narendra Modi at New York's Madison Square Gardens was a show to beat all shows.

Modi could not have asked for a better setting than New York's iconic entertainment venue to showcase his mass following in the country which had denied him a visa for nearly a decade for his alleged role in the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat.

Living up to his image of a rockstar, Modi delivered his best-ever performance which was lapped up by his frenzied fans, who just could not get enough of him. The 18,000-strong crowd which packed the stadium, cheered and applauded him periodically during his hour-long speech while the place resonated with chants of "Modi, Modi" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai."

Modi was clearly in his element, showing no signs of fatigue even though he is observing a nine-day fast for Navratari. He spoke in conversational style, establishing an immediate connection with the audience.

If the Madison Square Garden event was an occasion for Modi to send out an explicit message to the US administration, it was also an opportunity for the cash-rich and prosperous Indian diaspora to display their social and economic clout. The Indian American Community Foundation, chief organisers of the event, raised nearly $1.5 million from the Indian diaspora for this programme. This message could not have been lost on the two dozen US senators who were present at the event.

While mesmerised Indian Americans found it impossible to fault Modi, a section of the US political establishment came back a trifle disappointed.Nobody was willing to speak on record but a few did point out that the Indian Prime Minister had failed to unveil his vision on Indo-US relations while another leader maintained that Modi did not spell out his expectations from the US though he offered America India's cheap labour and a growing market. The Indian Prime Minister's emphasis on cleanliness and providing toilets did come in for appreciation,
On his part, Modi endeared himself to the large Indian American community with an emotional appeal to them to become partners in their country's development and a special announcement easing visa norms for them.
The prime minister had the crowds in raptures when he told them at the end of his hour-long speech that persons of Indian origin would now be given life-long visas while US tourists would be extended the facility of visa on arrival.

The audience literally brought down the roof when Modi took note of their affection for him, declaring in an unusually humble tone, "I will repay this loan by building a India of your dreams." The announcement about the NDA government's plan to clean the Ganga also got an ecstatic response from the enthusiastic audience.

The prime minister touched all the right buttons as he made a direct appeal to Indian Americans to become involved in India's development, promising them easy visa norms, better governance and quick decision-making. He showcased his government's future plans, gave details of the decisions already taken and promised to do much more.

The air of excitement at New York's Madison Square Garden was palpable well before Modi arrived. The protests by anti-Modi groups outside the venue failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds who travelled from nearby New Jersey to faraway San Francisco and waited patiently in serpentine queues but nobody was complaining. They were just eager to get a glimpse of the new prime minister and listen to his famed oratory.