Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech Friday night to an estimated 70,000 people in London, shortly after his British counterpart, David Cameron, espoused the virtues of the UK-India relationship.
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Speaking of the historical ties and complementaries between the two countries, Modi said India-UK are economically made for each other and this relationship has to be driven by private sector CEOs. “In the next 1,000 days we will ensure they get it”, he said on the second day of his three-day visit to Britain.
In his speech to the British parliamentarians and to thousands of the Indian diaspora at Wembley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alluded to the historical ties binding India to its former coloniser – from shared institutions and laws to an affinity for bhangra.
“I think it sent a clear message that a large part of the Indian community here rejects the politics of hate and intolerance, wherever it takes place”, Awaaz Network representative Suresh Grover said.
Britain, the former colonial power in India, has a 1.5 million-strong Indian diaspora population and the event, which will include a huge firework display, is to be held in a carnival atmosphere following celebrations for the Hindu festival of Diwali.
The news came shortly after Modi, who is in Britain on a three-day visit, had lunch with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace Friday.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is greeted with an extraordinary reception at Wembley Stadium on November 13, 2015. “World is seeing India as a land of opportunity”, the PM said as the crowd was repeatedly chanting “Modi, Modi”.
But Mr Dhruv said: “India is a democratic country and everybody has a right to protest”.
“My dear countrymen I would like to assure you that the dreams that you have dreamt, the dreams that every Indian has dreamt, the country has the capacity to fulfill them”, Modi said, addressing the crowd in Hindi.
Describing the rally as a “truly historic moment”, Cameron said: “Prime minister Modi, you can see what I see everyday – British Indians putting the great into Great Britain”.
Modi announced resumption of a direct flight between London and Ahmedabad, simplification of the process concerning Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card and measures taken towards electronic travel authorisation and e-migration portal.
“India is moving on the path of development at a fast pace”.
Modi presented the Queen a few award-winning Darjeeling tea from Makaibari tea estate in West Bengal and fine organic honey from J&K.
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“The new UK-India CEO Forum provides a powerful foundation with which to implement initiatives that will bring our two countries closer together, based on mutual respect and shared values”, said Mistry, who was joined by the likes of Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, Tata Consultancy Services CEO & MD N Chandrasekaran and Bharat Forge chairman Baba Kalyani.
