Konney/New Delhi: Bussa Krishna first began worshipping Donald Trump four years ago when the US president appeared to him a dream.
Since then, after a run of good fortune, the Indian real estate broker has transformed his modest home into a shrine to the US leader, who is due in India on Monday for a two-day visit.
“My love for him has transformed into reverence. That has given me immense happiness. Hence instead of praying to other gods, I started praying to him,” Krishna said.
Krishna, who lives alone in a village in the southern state of Telangana, has erected a life-size statue to Trump in his yard, while his walls are scrawled with the leader’s name — to the annoyance of his extended family.
“I am facing difficulties because of my relatives,” Krishna said. “They tell me that I am disgracing them in society. I told them that just like you believe and worship Shiva, I believe and worship Trump. Neither of us can stop the other from doing so.”
Krishna is not the only Indian who reveres Trump.
In New Delhi, members of the Hindu Sena, a right-wing fringe group, have begun rehearsing a welcome song in his honour.
Its members say Trump shares their hatred of extremism, and it has drawn attention for boisterous celebrations of his birthday, including pretending to feed cake to photos of his face.
“We like Donald Trump because he openly spoke about India’s feelings,” Hindu Sena leader Vishnu Gupta told Reuters. “...He openly said that he would eliminate Islamic terrorism from its roots, that is why I am his fan.”
Trump, who like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a reputation as an unabashed populist who shows his enemies no mercy, is making his first visit to India.
Trump’s itinerary starts on February 24 in the western city of Ahmedabad, where he will visit the former home of independence hero Mahatma and address an estimated 125,000 people at a rally.
He is due in the capital the following day.
Painters hope work will be noticed
Fifty-year-old Ashok Badjatya has been painting walls surrounding the Motera stadium as the city spruces up ahead of the US President Donald Trump’s maiden visit to Gujarat.
Badjatya and his five-member team hope President Trump and Prime Minister Modi will see their wall paintings at least once while crossing the road.
Messages inscribed on the wall include ‘World’s Largest Democracy meets World’s oldest democracy’, and ‘Mera Swachh Motera’ along with portraits of Trump and Modi. The approximately 100 feet long wall also depicts Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Charkha’ along with various athlete poses.
“I hope President Trump while crossing this road notices the paintings we are doing for him and our Prime Minister. Hope they feel good after seeing these paintings,” Badjatya said while speaking to ANI.
“I want to fight against the usage of plastic. My message is to spread ‘swachhta’ (cleanliness) as much as possible,” he added.
Currently, the team of painters is working day and night as they have been given permission to complete the entire stretch covering by February 22 the Motera Stadium, venue of the welcome event for the US first couple- President Trump and his wife Melania Trump.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Trump is expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on the lines of the ‘Howdy Modi’ function that was addressed by the US President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston in September last year.
