New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the Heathrow airport in London. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit UK in about a decade.
Modi’s London dreams have finally come true as for 10 years as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, Modi was persona non grata for Britain, subject to a travel ban and a boycott by British diplomats in the country. As he emerged from provincial politician to likely leader of the world’s largest democracy, Britain ended the boycott in 2012 in the face of growing business and realpolitik pressures.
UK PM David Cameron posted a video on Twitter welcoming the Indian Premier
Welcome to the UK @narendramodi from Britain's Indian community #ModiInUK
https://t.co/5hrlplmx4Q
— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) November 12, 2015
Aboard his Air India flight to London, PM Modi also called Aung San Suu Kyi and congratulated her on her elctoral victory and also invited her to visit India.
The visit will aim at terrorism and economic reforms seeking to boost investment will be his major agenda. The Prime Minister will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue near the Parliament and address the Indian diaspora at Wembley.
External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj was present at the Indira Gandhi International airport to see off the Prime Minister and was seen having a lengthy discussion with him before he left.
Prime Minister @narendramodi leaves for UK #ModiInUK pic.twitter.com/yaPVNpB0Ga
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) November 12, 2015
“Leaving for UK. I am hopeful this visit will strengthen economic ties between India and UK and bring more investment to India,” the Prime Minister tweeted before leaving.
Leaving for UK. I am hopeful this visit will strengthen economic ties between India and UK & bring more investment to India. #makeinindia
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2015
Prime Minister Modi will have a luncheon meeting with her majesty the Queen at the Buckingham Palace and he will also be the first Indian Prime Minister to address the UK Parliament.
His other engagements include a visit to BR Ambedkar’s house in which he lived when he was a student at the London School of Economics as well as unveiling the bust of Sri Basaveshwara at the Thames river embankment.
Prime Minister Modi will be visiting the United Kingdom and Turkey from November 12 to November 16.