India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told members of the Indian diaspora here that they will soon be eligible for Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), as he praised the strong cultural and historic ties between Trinidad and Tobago and India. In an address to a crowd of hundreds at the National Cycling Centre in Couva last night, his first official event after arriving in here yesterday afternoon, Modi encouraged more people of Indian descent to visit India. He expressed appreciation for the efforts of the diaspora in fortifying the connections between T&T and India. “There must be something magical in the doubles and dhalpourie because you have doubled the success of this great nation,” Modi said.
He recognised President Christine Kangaloo, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the late prime minister Basdeo Panday as distinguished members of the diaspora for their contributions. Additionally, he paid tribute to the late eminent scholar Rudranath Capildeo, the late music icon Sundar Popo, and retired cricketer Darren Ganga.
