Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Addresses Cultural Celebration on Long Island, Highlights Chess Olympiad Wins and Antiquities Return

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his U.S. visit with a cultural celebration on Long Island, where he shared exciting news of India’s dual win at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary. Addressing a crowd of 13,000 at Nassau Veterans Coliseum, Modi praised the United States for returning nearly 300 antiquities to India and highlighted the strong cultural ties between the two nations.

Modi, who was reelected in June after a historic election process, emphasized the importance of democracy in today’s world, especially amidst global conflicts and tensions. His visit to New York followed a summit hosted by President Joe Biden for leaders of the Quad, including Australia and Japan.

During his visit, Modi also accepted the return of 297 antiquities stolen or trafficked from India, adding to the nearly 600 cultural artifacts returned by the U.S. since 2016. The prime minister is expected to attend a United Nations summit ahead of this week’s General Assembly.

The event, sponsored by the Indo American Community of USA, showcased the strong bond between India and the United States, with Modi’s presence highlighting the shared values of democracy and cultural heritage.