Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Press Release

U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday following his speech at Madison Square Garden in New York City. During their meeting, the two spoke of the priorities shared by India and the U.S., including defeating the threat posed by ISIS and other Islamic extremists, cooperating to address environmental concerns, and maximizing economic opportunities.

"It was a great privilege to meet with Prime Minister Modi and personally welcome him on his historic visit to America. The Prime Minister's visit to the U.S. is a great opportunity to further develop the vital friendship and cooperation between the world's largest and oldest democracies," said Congresswoman Gabbard. "We had a wide-ranging discussion on several issues our countries have in common, including how America and India can work together to help combat the global threat posed by Islamic extremism."

Rep. Gabbard said she made a commitment to Mr. Modi to take the lead in Congress to pass a resolution in support of the Prime Minister's appeal to the UN to create an "International Yoga Day." Both agreed that "Yoga is widely misunderstood as a system of physical exercise rather than a lifestyle consciousness and world view that can help improve health, provide insight for addressing environmental challenges, facilitate world peace, and much more." Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said she and Mr. Modi agreed that "The West would be surprised by the vast knowledge and solutions the ancient Vedic texts have to offer the modern world."

Rep. Gabbard gave Mr. Modi her personal copy of the Bhagavad-Gita, which she has had since she was a child and was "a source of courage and comfort" during her two tours of duty in the Middle East as a Soldier, and which she took her Congressional Oath of Office on. Gabbard also presented the Indian leader with a ginger flower garland from her home state of Hawaiʻi, which Mr. Modi pointed out was a tradition in India as well.

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