NEW YORK: In 2005, an empty chair at New York's Madison Square Garden represented Narendra Modi for thousands of Indians who had come to meet him. Nine years on, as India's Prime Minister, Mr Modi will finally keep his date with his audience.
"This is sweet revenge for all of us in the US," said Raj Bhayani, a New York-based ENT surgeon who stays in a penthouse at Manhattan.
"In 2005, as Gujarat Chief Minister, he was about to visit New York. We had organized a community reception for him at the same location. But after his visa was revoked, we didn't know what to do. We had paid a deposit. People wanted to come in. So we kept an empty chair on the podium for Narendrabhai."
Mr Modi then addressed some 7,000 people through live telecast from Gujarat.
On Sunday, he is expected to draw the largest crowd ever by a foreign leader on US soil when he takes the stage in New York's most famous sports and entertainment arena. Some 18,000 people are expected to pack Madison Square Garden.
"We had tremendous demand for tickets. We knew that it will be overwhelming," said Bharat Barai, one of the organisers.
Some Indians have prepared a song for the occasion, starring Mr Modi and his rise to power after a remarkable election victory.
The musical tribute begins with "Bigul Bajaa Hai Jeet Ka (the bugle of victory has been sounded)" and shows snapshots of Mr Modi in various shades - the crowd-puller, the PM with a vision and the global leader.
Thousands are also expected to watch PM Modi's address on the big screens at New York's Times Square.
Mr Modi, 64, was denied a visa in 2005, three years after religious riots in Gujarat, the state he ruled for 13 years till he took over as Prime Minister in May.
Soon after Mr Modi won the election, the US courted him and said he would be welcomed in America.
Not An Empty Chair, But PM Modi Live: 'Sweet Revenge' For Indians in New York
"This is sweet revenge for all of us in the US," said Raj Bhayani, a New York-based ENT surgeon who stays in a penthouse at Manhattan.
"In 2005, as Gujarat Chief Minister, he was about to visit New York. We had organized a community reception for him at the same location. But after his visa was revoked, we didn't know what to do. We had paid a deposit. People wanted to come in. So we kept an empty chair on the podium for Narendrabhai."
Mr Modi then addressed some 7,000 people through live telecast from Gujarat.
On Sunday, he is expected to draw the largest crowd ever by a foreign leader on US soil when he takes the stage in New York's most famous sports and entertainment arena. Some 18,000 people are expected to pack Madison Square Garden.
"We had tremendous demand for tickets. We knew that it will be overwhelming," said Bharat Barai, one of the organisers.
Some Indians have prepared a song for the occasion, starring Mr Modi and his rise to power after a remarkable election victory.
The musical tribute begins with "Bigul Bajaa Hai Jeet Ka (the bugle of victory has been sounded)" and shows snapshots of Mr Modi in various shades - the crowd-puller, the PM with a vision and the global leader.
Thousands are also expected to watch PM Modi's address on the big screens at New York's Times Square.
Mr Modi, 64, was denied a visa in 2005, three years after religious riots in Gujarat, the state he ruled for 13 years till he took over as Prime Minister in May.
Soon after Mr Modi won the election, the US courted him and said he would be welcomed in America.
Not An Empty Chair, But PM Modi Live: 'Sweet Revenge' For Indians in New York
