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The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been accused of interfering in the next U.S presidential election. Modi gave a speech in Texas that critics say tacitly endorsed Donald Trump for re-election in 2020. Indian Prime Minister made the comments as he appeared onstage alongside the U.S president during a rally in Houston on Sunday. The rally was attended by at least 50,000 members of the Indian. It was only the first morning of events in a week-long visit by the Indian prime minister that will culminate in an address to the UN general assembly on Friday.

Trump described the “Howdy, Modi”! rally as a profoundly historic event. He and Modi renewed their warm personal relationship onstage by exchanging praise in speeches. But it was a reference to a key phrase in Hindi that has provoked criticism for Modi in India. Modi said that he admired his counterpart’s sense of leadership, passion for America, concern for every American, and strong resolve to make America great again.
Modi said, “He has already made the American economy strong again. He has achieved much for the U.S and the world. Friends, we in India have connected well with President Trump”. Modi added with a smile, in the words of candidate Trump he said, (Abki Baar Trump sarkar) “This time, the Trump government”.
The line was a reference to Modi’s own catchy slogan Abki Baar Modi sarkar, which helped propel him to power in 2014 and has been described as one of the most popular election catchphrases ever in the history of Indian elections. It also harked back to a TV advert released by the Trump campaign in 2016 that appealed to the Indian American community for their votes. It led a spokesperson Anand Sharma for the opposition Congress party in India to blame Modi of taking a partisan position in the domestic electoral politics of another country. He said, “Modi has violated the time-honored principle of Indian foreign policy of not interfering in the domestic elections of another country”.