US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Ahmedabad airport on Monday. (PIB)
Donald Trump Speech at Motera Stadium LIVE Updates: US President Donald Trump, who arrived in India on Monday for his first visit, is addressing over one lakh people at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. The event, ‘Namaste Trump’ has been organised on the lines of the ‘Howdy, Modi’ program which was held in the US last year.
As per the schedule, Trump, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will address the gathering after taking part in a roadshow.
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Hours before his arrival the capital city of Gujarat, Trump tweeted in Hindi that he is eager to meet the people of India. “Eager to land in India. We are on our way, see you all in a few hours,” he had posted on the micro-blogging site. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived at the airport to welcome the US President, responded, saying, “Athithi Devo Bhav! (Guests are like God).”
Citizens wearing ‘Trump India Road Show’ caps near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Monday. (Express photo/Vaibhav Jha)
Highlights
"Today, India is not just creating a world record of sending the most satellites at once, but also the world record of the quickest financial inclusion," PM Modi said.
"The US and India are committed to working together to stop terrorists and to fight their ideology. For this reason, since taking office, my administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crack down on terror organisations and militants that operate on the Pakistani border. Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one. Thanks to these efforts we are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan and we are hopeful for reduced tensions, greater stability and the future of harmony for all of the nations of South Asia," Trump had said.
As Trump concluded his speech, PM Modi said, "Thank you for all that you have told us. You have always expressed your love for us. Like America, India also has immense love for you. The trust between the two countries has grown massively. We are building a new India."
"As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India," Trump said.
"PM Modi started off as a humble 'chaiwala'; he worked at cafeteria and is a shining example that Indians can achieve anything. Extreme poverty in your country will be eliminated in the next 10 years. India and US have a natural and enduring friendship. There is a difference between nation that rises by coercion and one that rises by setting people free that is India," Trump said.
"We are firmly united to protect our citizens from the threat of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism, both our countries have suffered from terrorism. Our doors will always be closed to terrorism and any form of extremists that threatens our national security and goes against our fundamental values," the US President said.
"US will always continue to India's premier defence partner. We will make the biggest ever trade deal with India. Here's hoping for a good trade deal with India," Trump said.
"India gives hope to humanity. In just 70 years, India has become the largest democracy and has become one of the greatest nations in the world. Under PM Modi, villages in India have access to electricity. Over 300 million more have got internet connection. India will soon become the home to the world's largest middle class. What is impressive is that India has achieved all this as a democracy and as a tolerant country. India's achievement is unrivaled," Trump said.
"All over the planet people take great joy in watching Bollywood films, bhangra, and classic films like DDLJ and Sholay. You cheer on great cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli," US President Donald Trump said.
"The First Lady and I had the pleasure of visiting Mahatma Gandhi's ashram where he had led the salt march. Tomorrow, we will lay a wreath in Delhi in honour of this great person. Today, we will visit an iconic monument, the Taj Mahal," the US President told the crowd.
"India is the country that has always been admired and where millions of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, and Christians worship side by side. You have always stood strong as one great Indian nation," Donald Trump told the crowd.
"Five months ago, the United States welcomed your great Prime Minister at a giant football stadium in Texas and today, India welcomed us at the world's largest cricket stadium right here in Ahmedabad," Trump said. He added, "America loves India, America respects India and America will always be a faithful and loyal friend to the Indian people."
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, you have proven that Indians can accomplish anything they want through their hard work. You have an incredible story of your rise," Trump added. He also said that PM Modi is not just the pride of Gujarat, he is a living proof that with hard work & devotion, Indians can accomplish anything at all, anything they want. "The Prime Minister is a moving story of an incredible rise.", he said.
US President Donald Trump is now addressing the crowd. "America will always be loyal to the people of India. You have done a great honor to the American people. We will always be thankful for your hospitability. The life of PM Modi underscores the limitless promise for this nation. When he was a young man, he worked at a cafeteria. Everybody loves him but I will tell you, he is very tough. Today, he is tremendously successful," he said.
Modi also welcomed First Lady Melania Trump to the country. "Ivanka, you had earlier visited India and am glad you are here again," Modi said.
"I am glad that under the leadership of President Trump, India's ties with the US have improved and this visit will be a new chapter which will lead us to the roads of progress and prosperity. Trump thinks big and the world is familiar with whatever he has done for the world," Modi told the crowd.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the crowd at Motera Stadium.
"India's relations with US are far greater and closer than imagined. This event, 'Namaste, Trump' has a deeper meaning. I am thankful to the people of Gujarat for welcoming the US leader. Long live India-US relations," PM Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also arrived at the stadium, welcomed Trump by saying "Namaste Trump".
US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have arrived at the Motera Stadium.
Famous Gujarati delicacy 'khaman' made its way into the menu of the high tea to be offered to US President Trump and First Lady Melania during their brief visit to Sabarmati Ashram. Apart from khaman, the VVIPs from the US and their delegation were offered broccoli and corn samosa, apple pie, kaju katli and a variety of teas to choose from, said chef Suresh Khanna of Ahmedabad's Fortune Landmark Hotel. Khanna, a celebrity chef, was given the task of preparing food for Trump and his delegation.
"Electric Atmosphere at Motera Stadium as people eagerly wait to welcome President," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted.
US President Donald Trump has arrived at the Motera Stadium where he, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will address a gathering of over one lakh.
Last year, during the 'Howdy, Modi' event, PM Modi took New Delhi’s ties with the US to new heights after he endorsed US President Trump for a second term, saying ‘Abki Baar Trump Sarkar‘ in front of nearly 50,000 Indian-Americans. While addressing the massive crowd at the NRG Stadium, Modi hailed Trump saying said he admires him for his “sense of leadership, a passion for America, a concern for every American and a strong resolve to make America great again”. “He has already made the American economy strong again. He has achieved much for the US and for the world. We in India have connected well to him,” Modi said, adding “Abki Baar Trump Sarkar”.
‘Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures’, the Indian community event in the US, was held at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on September 22 last year. Besides addressing the NRI community at a stadium, Modi also held a roundtable meeting with CEOs and top executives of US energy companies. Over 50,000 people had registered for the mega community summit. The live audience was be the largest ever for an Indian Prime Minister in North America and also the largest for a foreign leader in the US other than Pope Francis.
A makeshift welcome gate erected at Motera stadium, the venue for the “Namaste Trump” event, crashed on Sunday evening. Nobody was injured, official sources said, adding that the gate crashed due to high-velocity winds. The incident occurred near Gate No 3 of the stadium for VVIP entry. When the gate made of welded rods and covered with flex banners fell, policemen and other officials were standing nearby. The gate also had a metal detector to scan those visiting the stadium. The temporary gate was re-erected with the help of a crane later, sources said.
FOR THE past few weeks, all routes from Ahmedabad airport to the new cricket stadium in Motera have been the most fussed pathways in India. For the ‘Kem cho Trump’ event (Howdy Trump, in Gujarati), some roads have been resurfaced, a few narrow lanes widened out to act as alternate routes, and pretty flowers flutter atop a newly constructed six-feet-tall and kilometre-long wall that would curtain out slums from Donald Trump’s vision. Not just Trump and Narendra Modi but even the venue’s an eye-ball grabber. The shiny new wonder can host a lakh and ten thousand people and will become the largest cricket stadium in the world. The Indian Express digs up the story of the old Gujarat Stadium, the epicenter of all political goings-on which refuses to go down as a footnote in history.
The Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad will be the last stop for US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are embarked on a roadshow from the Ahmedabad airport. Authorities said over one lakh people are expected to line up along the route of the roadshow, which has been named as 'India Road Show' by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Artistes and performers from various states were allotted a stage along the route to perform for the US President in their traditional attire. Around 50 stages were erected along the route, starting from the airport to the Motera stadium via Indira bridge.
The crowd at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad ahead of US President Donald Trump's arrival on Monday. (Express photo/Leena Misra)
Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "Motera set to transform into the loudest stadium in the world for today! The excitement in the air is palpable as the crowd builds up inside Motera awaiting PM Modi and welcome US President DonaldTrump and First Lady for 'Namaste Trump'."
US President Donald Trump, who arrived in India on Monday for his first visit, is set to address over one lakh people at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad this afternoon. The event, ‘Namaste Trump’ has been organised on the lines of the ‘Howdy, Modi’ program which was held in the US last year. Follow our live blog for all the latest updates.