New Delhi: Former Congress MP Milind Deora has praised the Prime Minister for the Houston event, saying it was “momentous for us”, adding his father and veteran Congress leader Murli Deora was among those who played a key role in recalibrating India-US ties to a new and higher level.
Calling former Union Minister and Congress leader Murli Deora his “friend”, Modi on Monday seconded Milind over his tweet that Deora Senior was “one of the early architects of deeper Indo-US ties”.
“You are absolutely correct when you highlight my friend, late Murli Deora Ji’s commitment to strong ties with the USA. He would have been really glad to see the strengthening of ties between our nations,” the PM said tweeted replying to Milind’s statement.
Milind said Modi’s address showcased India’s soft power diplomacy.
“PM Modi’s Houston address was a momentous first for India’s soft power diplomacy. My father Murlibhai was one of the early architects of deeper Indo-US ties. Donald Trump’s hospitality and recognition of Indian Americans’ contributions makes us proud,” Milind Deora tweeted after the “#Howdy, Modi” event.
Interestingly, the Congress accused the PM of violating Indian foreign policy’s “time-honoured principle” of not interfering in the domestic elections of another country by “actively campaigning” for the US president at the Houston event.
Responding to Milind’s tweet, Modi recalled his friendship with Murli Deora, adding the commitment of Milind’s late father had made ties with the United States strong.
Milind Deora had resigned recently as the Mumbai Congress President after the party’s debacle in Lok Sabha elections in May. He represented the Mumbai South constituency in 2004 and 2009, but lost to Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant in two successive elections.
Of late, the possibility of his joining the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, slated for October, is being speculated.
