Indian expats await PM Modi's arrival in New York

The Indian diaspora in New York gathered outside the Waldorf Astoria Hotel here on Thursday to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a five-day official visit to the United States.

"We are looking forward to meet our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and we are preparing since the last couple of days. And we have been very excited and we were trying to come as early as possible. We are here since the last half an hour. Mr. Modi is supposed to come out and greet everybody.... We are very excited and delighted to meet our Prime Minister and this will be a kind of one to one meeting," Snehal Shah told ANI.

"Even I want to meet Mr. Modi, the Prime Minister, that is the reason I came over here," added Tina Shah.

Bharat Mangukya, another Indian expat here, said that they have been preparing for this event since the last two days.

"We are very excited that Modiji comes outside and shakes hands with everybody. Let's welcome our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi," he added.

Prime Minister Modi, who arrived at the John F.Kennedy International Airport here, headed straight to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel where he would be staying during the New York leg of his official visit to the United States.