There is a lot of excitement surrounding Narendra Modi’s visit to London from 17-20 April. Reaching UK on the 17th April night from Sweden for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), his visit will focus on the Indians in Britain, who the Prime Minister calls as the ‘living bridge’. We still remember the uproar in Wembley stadium, when he slowly walked in with the then UK Prime Minister David Cameron. 40,000 people went absolutely hysteric to see and hear the Indian Prime Minister addressing his ‘mitron’ (friends) on the UK soil. Fast forward to 2018, the diaspora is equally excited to welcome NaMo and there are five vans going around London, celebrating the honourable Prime Minister of India's visit, connecting the two nations.
Modi's visit to Sweden for Nordic Summit
Ditching his usual kurta, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his fans a surprise when he chose to wear a grey blazer paired with black trousers and a crew-neck t-shirt on his historic visit to Sweden. The Indian leader reached the Scandinavian nation on Monday and became the first Indian Prime Minister to arrive for a bilateral visit in the last 30 years. He met the Indian diaspora within minutes of arriving in the country.
Modi called upon Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf on Tuesday, and later held talks with counterpart Stefan Löfven and Sweden's Enterprise Minister Mikael Damberg. Both the leaders later announced a joint press conference stating that Sweden would allocate 50 million kronor to an “innovation partnership” with India. Löfven listed a number of sustainable “modern solutions” his country had to offer, including smart cities, green tech and innovation.
After, Modi was welcomed by children in traditional Indian costume on his arrival at the Stockholm City Hall, where he held a roundtable meeting with Swedish CEOs. He exhorted the top businessmen to invest in India and participate in flagship initiatives. Around 30 CEOs or company representatives participated in the meeting. Swedish Trade Commissioner to India, Carsten Gronblad said, “One of the main message from the speakers was that they consider India as a very strategic market and that they would like to partner India meeting certain challenges. If we look at Swedish investments, they are increasing over the last few years. Swedish companies have committed to invest USD 1.1 billion in India over the next two years.”
Bilateral with UK
This time, PM Modi is believed to be the only Prime Minister who will be having a bilateral with Theresa May. The Prime Minister will start his day with a meeting with the UK counterpart Theresa May on Wednesday 18th at 10 Downing Street, and believed to be signing an already existing, but modified MoU with the UK regarding the return of the illegal Indian immigrants to India.
This will be followed by a meeting with Prince Charles, followed by another meeting with Mrs May where NaMo will be attending a showcase of British and Indian tech talents at the CEO’s Forum. It is believed Prince Charles will also attend that event in the first ever battery operated Jaguar car.
Modi will then have a personal and exclusive meeting with the Queen, who is perhaps personally attending the CHOGM for the last time, followed by a dinner with all Heads of State, hosted by Theresa May.
India is looking to increase its involvement in Commonwealth, and it is believed with China's growing importance in bilaterals with UK, India is looking to talk about visa and easing of the system.
However the UK and India will be signing a number of MoUs including one between the College of medicine, university of Westminster in the UK with the international centre of Ayurvedic Studies for an ‘Ayurveda Centre of Excellence’ in the UK. The plaque for this centre of excellence will be inaugurated during Modi’s meeting with Prince Charles on 18th. An initiative of Prince Charles himself, the centre is being launched in London with hopes of future inclusion of Ayurvedic medicines in NHS and GP prescriptions. Mainly a research centre, it now will work towards building this trust in Ayurveda as real medicine and establish branches among several hospitals in the UK.
On 18th, Modi will also address around 1500 people from the diaspora at the Central Hall, Westminster. Questions are already pouring in from all across the world, and not only the audience present there will get a chance to ask a question to Modi but people across the world would also get a chance to do so through live video conferencing.
He is also meant to visit the Basaveshwara statue in Lambeth and may make a brief trip to the Silicon roundabout near Old Street.
On 19th, Modi will be taking part in CHOGM and will be attending the Queen’s dinner at Buckingham palace with other head of states. On 20th there will be a retreat in Windsor, where the head of states will meet each other without presence of any officials and discuss one to one any matter of concern. Modi will be leaving UK on 20th night via Heathrow.
Minister M J Akbar and other indian Secretaries and ministers will also be travelling to the UK too and participating in CHOGM. But none of them would accompany the Prime Minister himself.
It is also rumoured that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and NaMo may have a bilateral in the UK.
Several protests & cultural activities
There are several protests planned including one against Modi on 18th at Parliament square by pro Kashmir and Khalistani separatist groups. Women of the UK are doing a silent protest, to publicly express their pain, sorrow and shock and most of condemn rape of small girls in India. This will be held between 1:30 and 3:30pm on 18th. It is rumoured that Indian Tamils demanding Cauvery river water disputes to be resolved with implementation of the Supreme Court judgement will also be joining the mix.
More than 30 NRI organisations will be showcasing their cultural talents at the Parliament square including music, dance and speeches from 12pm onwards. Friends of India Society International in a statement said, “The organisations will be represented by their members celebrating and supporting for India's growing importance both with the Commonwealth movement as well globally.”
Petition to stop Lord Ahmed
William Smith, a UK resident has started a petition to Theresa May asking to ban the protest on Wednesday 18th organised Lord Nazir in parliament square.
William in a petition on change.org said that has gained around 90 signatures, as we went to Press said, “A former Labour MP, Lord Nazir Ahmed of Pakistani origin, is said to be organising a protest on 18th April 2018. As informed by my friends working in High places , these protests may turn violent, as happened in 2016. Lord Nazir who is financing these protests, recently visited Pakistan to mobilise funds and also to coordinate with agencies.
“Some British politicians of Pakistani origin have been entrusted with the task to mobilize people from Sikh and Muslim communities to stage protest. In the past, when such protests were held, British citizens were made to suffer, throwing our lives out of gear and common citizens were panic stricken. Even caused damage to the public property.
“I fail to understand why people like Lord Nazir, a British national, are pursuing Pakistani agenda and are hellbent upon escalating tension in UK.
“Let us ask authorities, Why are we made to suffer? Why do we allow our country to be a battle ground? Why our Government has permitted such protests to take place.
“As a citizen of UK and a worried father, husband and a son I request our Government to Ban this engineered protest right away. Let our symbol of democracy be not used to spread fear among our people and our soil be not used to bolster a foreign agenda.”
