PM in UK: His first taste of hostility in London fails to dampen 'Good Mood' Modi
by Bikram Vohra Nov 13, 2015 11:53 IST
#Britian #David Cameron #European Union #London #Modi in UK #Narendra Modi #NewsTracker
38 Comments
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Not many know how many zeros there are in £9 billion but that was the bottom line as Day One of the Modi visit to the UK moved from a long meet at 10 Downing Street to dinner and hopefully, to some relaxed downtime.
Like the curate’s egg, it was good and bad in parts. Modi kept a stoic face as hundreds of protestors pockmarked the area reserved for ‘free expression’ outside the PM’s residence and chanted against 'Intolerant India'. Most heard were the slogans, "Modi, Modi! Shame, shame" and "Modi, Modi! You can’t hide; you committed genocide." Modi maintained a facade of clam but this new sensation could have been unnerving.
If it was a rugby match, one could say the pro-Modi lot had a more staying match and won the shouting contest. Relatively benign green jacketed bobbies kept vigilance but there were not many scuffles and overhead helicopters kept the crowd under control.
As high profile individuals joined the shouting throng, Modi was swiftly ushered into the premises of No 10 with his team at his heels and the closed doors meet began.
His military shopping spree could be on top of the bucket list and David Cameron set the ‘friendly’ tone by confirming Britain’s support for India’s candidacy to the UN Security Council. Commercial deals and a leg up for combined initiatives are also no the anvil.
There was a fair amount of clichéd good cheer to balance the protesting Indians outside as both leaders spoke of this being a ‘historic meeting.’ "The ties between our people are old,” Modi said.“Our goals are similar, our partnership is vibrant and our ties are always expanding."
PM David Cameron and PM Narendra Modi with Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow (left) at the London Eye on Thursday. AFPPM David Cameron and PM Narendra Modi with Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow (left) at the London Eye on Thursday. AFP
Welcoming the Indian Prime Minister to No 10, Cameron said UK and India should work to make the partnership even stronger. “Britain is already the largest investor in India among the G20 countries, with India investing more in the UK than it does in the rest of the EU combined,” said Cameron. “That’s making a difference to people’s lives, creating jobs, generating growth and making our economies more secure. But there is scope to go so much further.”
Cameron said Modi’s visit will witness British companies announcing new deals in India that will have them training more Indian workers, expanding businesses and ensuring new markets for British design and innovation.
To clinch this lava of affection 2017 has been designated UK-India year of Culture. From the Bard to Bollywood, 2017 will be UK-India Year of Culture. The project includes Shakespeare’s first folio and Magna Carta – to tour India and British Library South Asian archives to be digitised and popular Bollywood waxworks to feature in new Madame Tussauds in New Delhi.
Prime Minister David Cameron said 2017 will be the Year of Culture to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian independence and UK cultural ties. “The Year of Culture 2017 will see an exciting festival of events celebrating the vibrant cultural history of the two countries,” said Cameron.
Top UK institutions will partner with their Indian counterparts to strengthen cultural and economic ties between the two nations, and showcase British creativity on the global stage.
“The great partnership between India and the UK extends beyond economic ties to the boards of The Bard and the beaches of Bollywood. We have some of the best cultural exports in the world – and it’sabout time we celebrated this, together,” Cameron added.
In the post talks conference, Modi took the question of communal tension in India on the chin and reiterated his stand that the freedoms of the people were safe in the country and no caste or religious based hostility would be permitted. The Indian Prime Minister was a bit fazed by the frontal attacks on foreign soil, something he is not accustomed to on his many trip abroad where adulation has been the key. Before the bi-laterals began he had spent time reassuring representatives of the Sikh community that things were in hand and perpetrators of any religious bigotry would be caught and punished.
Reassurance seems to be integral to the Modi itinerary with the general consensus being that his Wembley speech Friday in front of 70,000 people will address all the negative publicity he has been receiving on several counts perhaps the most prickly surprisingly being the Nepalese contingent which seems to be the most vociferous.
by Bikram Vohra Nov 13, 2015 11:53 IST
#Britian #David Cameron #European Union #London #Modi in UK #Narendra Modi #NewsTracker
38 Comments
115513
Not many know how many zeros there are in £9 billion but that was the bottom line as Day One of the Modi visit to the UK moved from a long meet at 10 Downing Street to dinner and hopefully, to some relaxed downtime.
Like the curate’s egg, it was good and bad in parts. Modi kept a stoic face as hundreds of protestors pockmarked the area reserved for ‘free expression’ outside the PM’s residence and chanted against 'Intolerant India'. Most heard were the slogans, "Modi, Modi! Shame, shame" and "Modi, Modi! You can’t hide; you committed genocide." Modi maintained a facade of clam but this new sensation could have been unnerving.
If it was a rugby match, one could say the pro-Modi lot had a more staying match and won the shouting contest. Relatively benign green jacketed bobbies kept vigilance but there were not many scuffles and overhead helicopters kept the crowd under control.
As high profile individuals joined the shouting throng, Modi was swiftly ushered into the premises of No 10 with his team at his heels and the closed doors meet began.
His military shopping spree could be on top of the bucket list and David Cameron set the ‘friendly’ tone by confirming Britain’s support for India’s candidacy to the UN Security Council. Commercial deals and a leg up for combined initiatives are also no the anvil.
There was a fair amount of clichéd good cheer to balance the protesting Indians outside as both leaders spoke of this being a ‘historic meeting.’ "The ties between our people are old,” Modi said.“Our goals are similar, our partnership is vibrant and our ties are always expanding."
PM David Cameron and PM Narendra Modi with Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow (left) at the London Eye on Thursday. AFPPM David Cameron and PM Narendra Modi with Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow (left) at the London Eye on Thursday. AFP
Welcoming the Indian Prime Minister to No 10, Cameron said UK and India should work to make the partnership even stronger. “Britain is already the largest investor in India among the G20 countries, with India investing more in the UK than it does in the rest of the EU combined,” said Cameron. “That’s making a difference to people’s lives, creating jobs, generating growth and making our economies more secure. But there is scope to go so much further.”
Cameron said Modi’s visit will witness British companies announcing new deals in India that will have them training more Indian workers, expanding businesses and ensuring new markets for British design and innovation.
To clinch this lava of affection 2017 has been designated UK-India year of Culture. From the Bard to Bollywood, 2017 will be UK-India Year of Culture. The project includes Shakespeare’s first folio and Magna Carta – to tour India and British Library South Asian archives to be digitised and popular Bollywood waxworks to feature in new Madame Tussauds in New Delhi.
Prime Minister David Cameron said 2017 will be the Year of Culture to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian independence and UK cultural ties. “The Year of Culture 2017 will see an exciting festival of events celebrating the vibrant cultural history of the two countries,” said Cameron.
Top UK institutions will partner with their Indian counterparts to strengthen cultural and economic ties between the two nations, and showcase British creativity on the global stage.
“The great partnership between India and the UK extends beyond economic ties to the boards of The Bard and the beaches of Bollywood. We have some of the best cultural exports in the world – and it’sabout time we celebrated this, together,” Cameron added.
In the post talks conference, Modi took the question of communal tension in India on the chin and reiterated his stand that the freedoms of the people were safe in the country and no caste or religious based hostility would be permitted. The Indian Prime Minister was a bit fazed by the frontal attacks on foreign soil, something he is not accustomed to on his many trip abroad where adulation has been the key. Before the bi-laterals began he had spent time reassuring representatives of the Sikh community that things were in hand and perpetrators of any religious bigotry would be caught and punished.
Reassurance seems to be integral to the Modi itinerary with the general consensus being that his Wembley speech Friday in front of 70,000 people will address all the negative publicity he has been receiving on several counts perhaps the most prickly surprisingly being the Nepalese contingent which seems to be the most vociferous.
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