Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal assured the Indian diaspora in the United States on 3 October 2026 that India stands firmly behind its citizens wherever they face hardship, declaring, 'India is watching your back.' Addressing members of the Indian community in the Chicago area on Gandhi Jayanti, Goyal invoked past crises in Yemen and Ukraine as evidence of India's commitment to protecting its people abroad.

The Assurance to Overseas Indians

'As you know that India is like one country and any Indian is in any difficulty, any distress, anywhere in the world. We back home are watching your back,' Goyal said during his address. He went further, adding: 'We care for you and you will always have us as a support whether you are in Yemen, at the peak of the crisis, whether you are in Ukraine, when the war breaks out.'

The minister said he could cite several such examples of India standing behind its people during difficult circumstances overseas. 'Your nation, your motherland will always stand by you, will be there for you, for your families, for your children,' he said.

Diaspora as a Living Bridge Between Two Democracies

Goyal described the approximately 40 million people of Indian origin across the world as a vital link between India and their countries of residence. He specifically addressed Indian-Americans as 'the living bridge between the United States and India,' calling each member of the community 'an ambassador of India to the United States.'

At the same time, he urged them to embrace their responsibilities towards their adopted country. 'Be loyal to it, be honest to it, work hard for your nation,' he said, referring to the United States. He also asked them to retain their emotional ties to India, saying: 'But always keep in your mind, in your heart, a little place for your mother and for all the people.'

Gandhi Jayanti Tribute at Skokie Memorial

Goyal's remarks came as he paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Sculpture in Skokie, Illinois, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. He subsequently posted on X, saying: 'Mahatma Gandhi ji's timeless ideals of non-violence, simplicity and truth, deeply rooted in India's civilisational ethos, continue to guide and inspire humanity across generations.'

The minister also invoked Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence and concern for all sections of society during his community address, saying Gandhi's ideas had left an indelible mark well beyond India's borders.

Vivekananda Connection and Chicago Programme

Goyal's Chicago engagements included a visit to Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago, the very venue where Swami Vivekananda delivered his landmark address at the World's Parliament of Religions in September 1893. The visit underscored the deeper civilisational thread that Goyal sought to weave through his outreach — connecting India's philosophical heritage with the contemporary role of the diaspora.

This comes amid an ongoing push by the Indian government to deepen engagement with its overseas community, which spans roughly 40 million people globally and represents one of the largest diasporas in the world. With India-US ties at a strategically pivotal moment, senior ministers visiting diaspora hubs such as Chicago are part of a broader diplomatic signalling exercise aimed at both community outreach and bilateral goodwill.