Stepped-up security ahead of Indian prime minister's Nassau Coliseum address

Hardening potential security targets around Nassau Coliseum continued Friday as county, state and federal law enforcement prepared for Sunday's sold-out Uniondale address by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Nassau County Police Department was anticipating heavy traffic and potential slowdowns Sunday on streets near the Coliseum. Modi, criticized over the years for far right policies blamed for inciting violence against religious minorities, is also expected to draw protesters.

Gates to the Coliseum parking lot open at 6:30 a.m. Sunday and security, led by the Secret Service and Nassau County police, will remain in place following Modi's speech.

Indo American Community of USA, the organizers, had received 24,000 registration requests for the event, dubbed "Modi & U.S., Progress Together." Organizers issued assigned seating for more than 13,000. The program is set to begin at 10 a.m.

Doors to the Coliseum open at 7:30 a.m., Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Friday during a briefing on security measures for the event. 

"As you can imagine, this was an incredibly popular ticket to obtain," he said. "If you do not have a ticket, you will not be allowed in."

The Indian prime minister’s visit follows former President Donald Trump's campaign rally Wednesday at the Coliseum that drew a capacity crowd and led to temporary road closures, including entrances to the Meadowbrook Parkway. Police have not specified any closures Sunday, citing security concerns for Modi’s motorcade.

The prime minister's address will mark the second high-profile Long Island event in recent months with India as one of the focal points. It will also be the second to put a global spotlight on the Island's more than 80,000 Indian American residents. In June, the cricket T20 World Cup was held at Eisenhower Park. The well-received event featured a matchup between cricket powerhouses and archrivals in the sport, India and Pakistan.

"With India being one of the largest economies in the world, the relations between the U.S. and India could be very beneficial," said Harry Singh, CEO of Garden City-based Bolla Oil and a leader in bringing Modi to the Coliseum.

"We see a future as the country of America dealing with a country like India ... to have a very bright future and a relationship to be built," Singh said. "It's a great way, bringing him here and making sure we have the opportunity to do our trades and hopefully future friendly relations as well."

Several protests are also planned at the Coliseum, which officials said will be allowed in designated areas, commonly known as "free speech zones."

"We always have free speech zones at all of our major events where we anticipate that there will be opposition and counterprotesters," Blakeman said. "So there will be provisions made for that. We are aware that it could be a large amount, and we are prepared for that."

County officials did not provide an estimated security price tag for the event, which comes on the heels of Trump's Coliseum stop as well as last month's appearance by the Dalai Lama at UBS Arena in Elmont.

Nassau County was reimbursed at $100,000 per match during the cricket tournament by its organizers. Officials said they did not expect to be reimbursed for either Trump's rally or Modi's visit because both events were negotiated with the Coliseum's operators.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.