How PM Modi explores 29 US states: red-eye flights, no luggage, no hotels

Prime Minister Modi said he often travels with members of the Indian community.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday revealed that he had explored 29 states in the US even before becoming the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Prime Minister Modi said he planned his travels carefully, often using maps, and Indians living in the United States often assisted him in exploring different locations.

Notably, Prime Minister Modi has graced the cover of Newsweek, making him the second Prime Minister after Indira Gandhi to receive such coverage in the global news magazine.

“My connection with the diaspora goes back a long way, even before I entered politics. I have been involved with our diaspora since I started working in social work,” the Prime Minister told Newsweek.

Prime Minister Modi told the Weekly that he gets “unlimited monthly discounts” on Delta Air Lines’ services during his travels and frequently travels with members of the Indian community, which in turn helps him “connect with the diaspora”.

“Delta used to have a program that offered unlimited travel for a month at a discount. But no luggage was allowed and no seat reservations were allowed. I would take a red-eye flight to ensure a seat and take a longer flight to avoid a hotel,” Prime Minister Modi told the magazine.

“In the morning, the diaspora would pick me up and I would spend the whole day with the community. This way, I could observe them up close and as time went on, I got to know them better,” he further said.

Prime Minister Modi hailed India’s rising diaspora in the world and said their success has become the talk of the world today and they are acting as “our ambassadors around the world”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)