Reportedly besides the optics of diplomacy and showcasing the power of the Indian diaspora, Prime Minister Narendra modi's visit to Houston in Texas has significance. Meanwhile it lies in the history of Texas and the united states on one hand, and a likeness with Jammu and Kashmir and india on the other.
Furthermore the Kashmir connection in PM modi's Houston visit was evident in the way nri Kashmiri Pandits greeted the PM in his first visit to the US after the scrapping of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted under Article 370 of the Constitution. It is just like Jammu and Kashmir was not a part of india at the time of Independence, Texas was not part of the United States of America when it was formed.
Earlier Texas was part of mexico till 1836 and it rebelled against mexico and declared independence in 1836 as the Republic of Texas. Moroever Houston, the fourth most populous city of the US and most populous in Texas, is named after Samuel Houston and the Republic of Texas under Houston passed a resolution for a merger with the US. The major political parties of the US were initially very skeptical about the move and opposed the accession of Texas to the US.
