FDI into India up 40 percent: Modi

MORE than £9 billion in commercial deals has been agreed between India and the UK with 1,900 UK jobs created or safeguarded during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK this week, the Government has said. The event was held in a carnival atmosphere following celebrations for Diwali festival.

Shri Narendra Modi spoke of the historical ties and complementarities between the two countries.

Facing attack back home over the issue of “intolerance”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the country’s “strength and pride” lies in India’s diversity as he underlined the importance of peaceful co-existence. “We don’t want charity from others. Whether terrorism or global warming, the responsibility to save humanity lies with all countries, all citizens”.

A number of groups had earlier announced a “day of protest” today, coinciding with Modi’s visit.

“The only stadium that could accommodate Prime Minister Modi at this particular time is Wembley Stadium”. More than 200 authors, including Salman Rushdie, signed an open letter this week urging Cameron to address “the rising climate of fear” in India during his talks with Modi. He also mentioned the need for FDI in India and equated it as FDI = First Develop India. In a signal honour to India, Modi was hosted for a luncheon banquet by Queen Elizabeth II on Friday. “This program reflects the mood of the Indian community about collaboration in a positive feature”, Keerti Mathur, the programme director of Prime Minister Modi’s event told ANI. “India with its 125 crore people is much bigger and better with a pre-eminent position beyond the screen of Television”, he said.

The son of a tea seller, Modi ended a decade of Congress-led rule in India by pledging to widen prosperity in the country of 1.3 billion people. He campaigned on his record in the western state of Gujarat, where per capita incomes rose faster than the national average during his 13 years as chief minister as he brought in domestic and foreign investment. While the British PM said he wanted to support Modi in his efforts to transform India with improved infrastructure, Modi signalled he wanted Britain to stay in the European Union, saying the country was India’s gateway to Europe.