PM Modi has filled leadership vacuum, says IACA Chairman

Chairman of the Indian American Advisory Council (IAAC) to U.S Congress, Shalabh Kumar, said here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was filling in a vacuum in this world which is seeking leadership.

"He is filling in a vacuum in this world which is seeking leadership. We have not seen a leader since Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher who has such a clear vision, that our Prime Minister Modi has," Kumar told ANI.

However, he also exhorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apply one of the principles of Ronald Regan - 'Trust but verify'.

"I would suggest to PM Modi that when dealing with current administration here he needs to have trust but be vigilant."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama today for a private dinner at the White House.

The Prime Minister had yesterday addressed an estimated audience of 20,000 people, a majority of them Indian Americans, at New York's famous Madison Square Garden where he exhorted the Indian American community to join in the development effort for India.

Pointing out that development is ultimately achieved through public participation, the Prime Minister said he wants to make development a mass movement, just like Mahatma Gandhi had made the freedom movement a mass movement.

He highlighted various initiatives that have been initiated by the new Government including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Make in India, Swachh Bharat and Clean Ganga.

He also highlighted the unique combination of three great strengths that India has: democracy, demography and demand while pointing out that for India, democracy is not just a system of governance, but an article of faith.