‘True, loyal friend’: Trump affirms India relationship
Says committed to defence partnership, terror fight; ‘incredible’ trade deal soon Calls PM a ‘tremendous leader’, ‘tough negotiator’; arrives in Delhi for bilateral talks
AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump on Monday presented their vision for the next phase of the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries, with the US leader promising India one of the “biggest ever” trade deals and the “most-feared military equipment” as they jointly addressed a rally attended by over 100,000 people.
The two leaders effusively praised each other at the “Namaste Trump” rally held at the world’s largest cricket stadium at Motera, with Trump describing Modi as an “exceptional leader, a great champion of India” to loud cheers, while the Prime Minister said India-us relations have moved on from “just another partnership” to a “far greater and closer relationship”.
Trump, on his first visit to India, and First Lady Melania Trump were received by Modi when they landed at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Air Force One shortly before noon.
The Indian side pulled out all the stops in according a rapturous welcome to the US President, with tens of thousands of people lining the roads as he drove from the airport to Sabarmati Ashram and then to Motera Stadium, the venue for the “Namaste Trump” rally.
Folk musicians, dancers and artistes performed on stages representing India’s 28 states as Trump’s motorcade covered the 22-km route, showcasing the country’s rich and diverse culture and heritage.
During the short stopover at Sabarmati Ashram, the complex on the banks of the Sabarmati river that was home to Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1930, Modi took the Trumps around the spartan home. Trump spun the charkha to weave some cotton, and signed the visitors’ book before resuming the journey to the stadium for the rally, that was the highlight of the first leg of his visit of just under 36 hours.