A far-right Hindu group which has been one of Donald Trump’s most avid overseas cheerleaders began celebrating in New Delhi Wednesday as the Republican pulled off a shock US presidential election victory.
Vishnu Gupta, chief of the ultra-nationalist ‘Hindu Sena’ outfit, said supporters had taken to the streets to bang traditional drums even before Trump claimed victory and would also distribute celebratory sweets.
Trump’s hardline rhetoric towards Muslims has found favour in some quarters in India, the world’s largest democracy which has had its fair share of tensions between the majority Hindu population and its Muslim minority.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was before his 2014 election regarded as an international pariah after deadly communal riots broke out in the state of Gujarat more than a decade ago when he was chief minister. Most of the victims were Muslims.
Trump has called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States and Gupta said his message had wide resonance.
“We predicted that he would win five days ago — there is a huge support for him, his ideas, and we could see that,” said Gupta.
“Now terrorists will be hunted everywhere in the world, even if they go and hide in a cave. Now only God can help Pakistan. India will now have the support of the US in our efforts against terrorists. We will be together in this. Donald Trump will do what no other US president has been able to do before. We are happy. All terrorists should now run and hide.”
Gupta’s group held a special prayer session for Trump in New Delhi back in May when he was seen as a long shot for the presidency, hailing him as a “fighter and a saviour of humanity”.
They also celebrated his birthday in June with a cake, balloons and posters.
China to work with Trump, enhance bilateral ties
China said it will work with the new US president Donald Trump to ensure the steady and sound development of bilateral ties.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks at a regular news briefing on Wednesday as Republican Donald Trump moved to the brink of winning the White House.
Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States in a shocking defeat of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
In his presidential address, Trump said, “We will get along with all other nations willing to get along with us… Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach. America will no longer settle for anything less than the best.”
“While we will always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone,” he said.
EU’s Mogherini says EU-US ties deeper than any change in politics
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that the European Union and the United States would continue to work together following Donald Trump’s election as US president.
“EU-US ties are deeper than any change in politics. We’ll continue to work together, rediscovering the strength of Europe,” Mogherini, high representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a tweet.
EU officials and diplomats said European governments may need to strengthen their own cooperation if a Trump administration pulls back from international commitments.
