Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in London on April 18 on a four-day visit of bilateral engagements with his British counterpart Theresa May as well as multilateral discussions as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). He addressed the diaspora from the Westminster Central Hall in London.
Here are the latest updates:
The event concludes with Prashoon Joshi's recitation and a song.
“How do you want history to remember you,” asks Prashoon Joshi. “If we can't remember who wrote the Vedas, Modi is a small thing. I was not born with an aim to be in history books. I request you all — remember our country and not Modi. I am just like you all, a common citizen of India. PM is like any other job, like teacher or driver. ”
“What prevented Indian Prime Ministers from going to Israel. Yes, I will go to Israel and I will even go to Palestine. I will further cooperate with Saudi Arabia and for the energy needs of India I will also engage with Iran,” the Prime Minister says. "India is setting agenda in every international forum. India is becoming a trend-setter.”
Prashoon Joshi: “After listening to you, it's clearing where we are marching towards.”
Mr. Modi responds to a question: “Criticism has taken the form of allegation.”
“Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism,” he says. “I want this Government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong”
“My problem is not against criticism. To criticise, one has to research and find proper facts. Sadly, it does not happen now. What happens instead is allegations.”
“Till our government came, only 59 villages got optical fibre connectivity in three years. During my government, more than 1 lakh villages were connected,” he says.
“If you will see where we stand in comparison to previous government, I can affirm that we left no stone unturned in doing good for the country on any parameter. Before 2014, newspapers used to have headlines aaj itna gaya , today's news is Modi Ji kitna aaya , says Modi.
Another adulatory question: “You are an icon. And from where do you get the energy to to the things you are doing?”
Breaks into a story of a kid carrying his brother on his shoulder in a hill, to tell carrying the brother is no burden. Adds the 125 crore Indians are his family.
Santosh Patil from Karnataka asks a question on how Bhagwan Basaveshwara influenced him.
Response: “One of the things I wanted to do in London was to pay homage to Bhagwan Basaveshwara.”
“It's our country misfortune that after independence, attempts were made to erase the culture & history of India. People were kept from anything but one single family. What Lord Basweshwar did for women empowerment, democracy & social causes is an example for world.”
Another presentation.
Prashoon Joshi breaks into a recitation. (Apologies. The commenter here at the desk couldn't fully appreciate the depth of the recitation. Will update as and when a translation is presented.)
He has been asked about Modicare. Like Obamacare will it make a change?
“I'm focusing only on three things: Education for kids. Income for youth. Medicine for the elders,” he responds.
Prasoon Joshi asks the Prime Minister: “You are working hard but can you change the nation alone?”
Response: “Me too a common man like you, And, I also have drawbacks like normal people do.” Applause.
“Please don't treat me differently. The place I’m in is because of you.
“I, too, am prone to mistakes, but I won't do anything with bad intention. I have promised the nation.
“We have a million problems but we have a billion people who can solve them.”
Applause again.
I will make stairs out of stones thrown at me, he says.
Another clipping. This time featuring appreciation women on free LPG, a soldier on “someone who thought of the jawans for the first time.”
Touches the issue of the Kathua rape issue. Says: “Why don't you stop posing questions to daughters and start asking sons about their whereabouts.”
“I do not need to read books to understand poverty. I have lived in poverty, I know what it is to be poor and belong to the backward sections of society. I want to work for the poor, the marginalised and the downtrodden,” he says.
18,000 villages did not have electricity. So many women do not have access to toilets. These realities of our nation did not let me sleep. I was determined to bring about a positive change in the lives of India's poor,” he says. “Poverty cannot be removed by gharibi hatao slogans.” Applause.
Question from a member of the audience. Mayuresh Kojani. His question is read out, while Mr. Kojani asks his question on surgical strike through sign language.
Mayuresh Kojani, left, who posed the Prime Minister through sign language at Westminster Central Hall in London on April 18, 2018. Photo: DDNews
Look back at India's history. India has never desired anyone else's territory. During World War 1 and 2 we had no stake but our soldiers took part in the Wars. These were big sacrifices. Look at our role in UN Peacekeeping Forces, the PM responds.
He attacks Pakistan and in a veiled reference says the country “exporter of terror.” And surgical strikes, he says, was to say, "This is Modi. I know how to pay back in same coin.
“We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted.” Crowd explodes with “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”
“Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated.”
Goes on about surgical strikes: “I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them what we did so they can come and take dead bodies if they have time. We were calling them since 11 a.m., but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told Indian media.”
To another question, he responds: “ People have more expectations from us because they know that we can deliver. People know that when they say something, the government will listen and do it.”
Priyanka Verma from Delhi has a question for the PM: “We select a Government that works for us. You have tried to change systems, but my question is should all this not have been done earlier.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens to a question at the Westminster Central Hall in London on April 18, 2018. Photo: DDNews
Response from Mr. Modi: “During the freedom struggle Mahatma Gandhi did something very different. He turned the freedom struggle into a mass movement. He told every person that whatever you are doing will contribute to India's freedom. Today the need of the hour is to make development a mass movement.
“Participative democracy makes good governance possible.”
Mr. Modi arrives at Westminster Central Hall to answer ‘questions concerning India’. Prashoon Joshi, moderator poses a question about his journey from railway station to royal hall.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Indian diaspora at Westminster Central Hall in London on April 18, 2018.
“People are equivalent to gods in a democracy and if they wish even a tea-seller can become their representative and shake hands at the Royal Palace,” he says.
A clipping "badlav and besabri" (change and impatience) is being played.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and moderator watch a presentation at Westminster Central Hall in London on April 18, 2018. Photo: DDNews
After that Mr. Modi says, “Impatience is not a bad thing. If a person has a bicycle, person then aspires for a scooter. If a person has a scooter, person aspires for a car. It is natural to aspire. India is getting increasingly aspirational.”
“Days of incremental change are over,” he declares.
Tight security at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath programme venue in London, around 1,700 are expected, reports Vidya Ram from Westminster Central Hall.
The Westminster Central Hall, the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath” programme in London on April 18, 2018.
U.K.-based student group National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK and associated Indian societies at U.K. universities say they’ve received calls demanding they retract a joint statement on Kathua and Unnao, Vidya Ram reports.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale briefs the media on Mr. Modi's visit: Mr. Modi and Ms. May held discussions on wide range of issues including trade and investment, bilateral issues, international issues after which a joint trade review was held. Mr. Modi emphasised that it needs to be a balanced agreement, which have mutual benefits, news agency ANI quotes Mr. Gokhale as saying.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Theresa May meet at 10 Downing Street in London on April 18, 2018. Photo: @UKinIndia
The second issue that was discussed of terrorism and radicalism. PM described extremism, radicalism, terrorism as rising challenge for both countries and for countries across the globe. It was agreed that one area where we need to enhance cooperation substantially is in cybersecurity field, Mr. Gokhale says.
The issue of economic offenders was also raised and this was among a number of consular issues that were raised, the Foreign Secretary says.
Pays homage to Basaveshwara
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays his respects to Basaveshwara by garlanding the Lingayat philosopher's statue, unveiled by him on the south bank of the Thames in 2015.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays floral tribute to Lingayat philosopher Basaveshwara in London on April 18, 2018.
The Karnataka government recently accorded “religious minority” recognition to Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats who follow the philosophy of 12th century social reformer Basavanna. The Centre is yet to notify it.
Mr. Modi visits an exhibition in Science Museum. "The exhibition celebrates India’s role in the history of science and technology by exploring its contributions to subjects including space exploration and engineering," tweeted the Clarence House .
Diaspora welcomes Modi
Indian-origin people perform a dance near Downing Street to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr. Modi's supporters gather across Downing Street as he holds bilaterals with Ms. May. The Indian community under the banner, ''Indian Ladies in the UK" and "Friends of India Society'' are seen in sizeable numbers.
Police presence is heavy following reports of protests planned outside the venue.
India pools into $5 million small states fund at CHOGM
India is among four countries to pool into an innovative $ 5 million fund for small states to obtain easier access to international trade finance to diversify their economies and achieve the sustainable development goals.
The announcement of the Commonwealth Small States Trade Finance Facility came at the ongoing London CHOGM.
India joins Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Malta to inject capital into the new scheme, which has Standard Chartered Bank and the Bank of Baroda as its the facility managers.
Meets May
Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he leaves from 10, Downing Street.
Mr. Modi meets Ms. May at the latter's official residence on Downing Street for bilateral talks.
The duo are learnt to have discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including separatism, cross-border terrorism, visas and immigration.
U.K. Foreign Secretary receives Modi at airport
Foreign Secretary of the U.K. Boris Johnson receives Mr. Modi, on the latter's arrival at the Heathrow Airport in London.
Mr. Johnson says he is “excited” about the growing India-U.K. bilateral trade and that the visit will help build on “huge economic advantages“.
”..thanks to our shared history, we have a living bridge between us and now we want to build on the incredible tech sector where both India and the UK are making giant strides together,” he said in a statement.
