'Performers are all show-offs': Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi quotes Elton John on Donald Trump joining 'Howdy, Modi!' rally

New Delhi: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Monday borrowed the words of British singer Elton John, “performers are all show-offs”, to describe US President Donald Trump joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Howdy, Modi!” mega diaspora event in the United States. He took to Twitter to take a swipe at the prime minister over his event scheduled to be held at Houston, Texas in the US on 22 September.

"I think performers are all show-offs anyway. Unless you show off, you're not going to get noticed."
- Elton John#Houston#HowdyModi

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) September 16, 2019

At the All India Congress Committee (AICC) briefing, senior party leader Rajiv Shukla said it was a good thing that a US President would attend an event of the Indian prime minister. “It is a good thing. Donald Trump’s election is also approaching. There is a big Indian population in the United States,” he said. Trump will join Modi at the mega “Howdy, Modi!” diaspora event in Houston on Sunday to bolster India-US strategic ties, according to a White House announcement that was hailed by the prime minister on Monday as a “special gesture” signifying the “special friendship” between the two countries. Emphasising the new bonhomie in the India-US ties under the Trump administration, this would be the first time in recent history that the leaders of the two largest democracies would be addressing a joint rally anywhere in the world. More than 50,000 Indian-Americans from across the US have registered for the 22 September “Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures” event to be held at the sprawling NRG Stadium in Houston. In a statement on Sunday, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, “It (Modi-Trump joint rally) will be a great opportunity to emphasise the strong ties between the people of the US and India, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies, and to discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship.” Hours after the White House announcement, Modi, in a series of tweets, said he looked forward to joining the Indian community in welcoming Trump at the event.

A special gesture by @POTUS, signifying the special friendship between India and USA!

Delighted that President @realDonaldTrump will join the community programme in Houston on the 22nd.

Looking forward to joining the Indian origin community in welcoming him at the programme.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2019

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This will also be the first time that an American president will address thousands of Indian-Americans at one place in the US.