Modi unifying force for highly fractured Indian diaspora: Chauthaiwale

The Indian diaspora is "highly fractured" but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become a "big unifying force" for it, BJP overseas affairs department head Vijay Chauthaiwale said on Wednesday, asserting that events like 'Howdy, Modi!' boost the stature of Indians living abroad and work as part of soft diplomacy for the country.

Speaking at a programme "Howdy, Modi! Unwrapping the Wrapped & Leveraging the Gains" organised by Public Policy Research Centre, he said there are over 1,100 Indian organisations in a city like London or over 500 in Texas but they come together for such events because of Modi's appeal.

Chauthaiwale has been a key figure in organising Modi's addresses to big meetings of Indian diaspora abroad.

Community leaders get actively involved in these meetings as they are told that they are behind it not the government of India or the BJP.

These events have no funding from either the government or the BJP, and are financed by donors at the local level, he ...