Newsroom24x7 Desk

London : Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in London was marked with a flypast by the RAF’s aerobatics team over the House of Commons. When the Indian PM proceeded to address the British MPs in the Royal Gallery, large crowds cheered him and welcomed the Indian PM on UK soil.
Delivering his speech, PM Modi emphasized on how the two countries needed to create one of the leading global partnerships. After visiting the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the premises there, PM Modi took an initiative and addressed UK’s top industry leaders at London’s Guildhall, and made a pitch for investment in India. He said — We have been working aggressively to make India an easy and simple place to do business. In ease of doing business India went up 12 places in one go.

PM Modi, whose three-day visit is the first by any Indian prime minister in a decade, said India’s relationship with the UK was of immense importance. As both leaders of India and UK addressed a joint media and highlighted the salient points arising out of their bilateral talks, both leaders expressed their expectations and commitment towards improving bilateral relations. Addressing the media jointly with PM Modi, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said UK supports India’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council.PM Modi showed his support for Britain’s upcoming EU referendum, saying, India viewed the UK as its entry point to the EU.He said — Yes we are going to other European countries as well, but we will continue to consider the UK as our entry point to the EU as far as possible.

Confronting questions by the British media on growing incidents of intolerance back home, PM Modi said his government was committed in protecting every citizen’s freedom. He said — India is the land of Buddha and in our society, we don’t accept unconstitutional things. The law will deal with these severely.

PM Modi said UK and India were two strong economies and two innovative societies, and going forward, this relationship must set higher ambitions. India and UK announced deals worth 9 billion pounds. The two countries also signed a civil nuclear pact. Both leaders said they would collaborate on issues including finance, defence, nuclear power and climate change.

PM Modi stayed overnight at Chequers, a 16th-century mansion, which presently happens to be British Prime Minister David Cameron’s country retreat in Buckinghamshire. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today have lunch with Queen Elizabeth and then address the Indian community at the Wembley Stadium in what is flagged as the centerpiece of his three-day UK visit, where more than 70,000 NRIs have already queued in with reserved seats for the grand gallery.