Diversity is India’s speciality, pride and strength: Modi at Wembley

Cameron and Modi held talks in London on Thursday, announcing afterward that British and Indian companies had sealed 9 billion pounds ($13 billion) of deals in areas from renewable energy to defense.

Indian pop and Hindi playback singer Alisha Chinai performed at the iconic Wembley Stadium here on Friday as 60,000 cheering people waited for the address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Indian diaspora in Britain.

Modi said the government wants to develop Indian railway stations through public-private partnership.

Modi’s comments, delivered via a translater, were seized on by campaigners wanting Britain to stay in the EU.

In his opening remarks, British Prime Minister Cameron referred to Prime Minister Modi’s vision and intent for transforming India.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

“Mr Cameron should speak out for the people Mr Modi is so intent on silencing and make it clear that how a country treats its NGOs is a litmus test for their worldwide standing”, Hogarth added.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to create a “modern, dynamic partnership” with India.

“I can say that after my experience during the last 18 months”, Modi, who started his Wembley speech in English and then turned to Hindi, said. “And when you’re taking India to the world’s top table, we are with you”, said Cameron.

In a signal honour to India, Modi was hosted for a luncheon banquet by Queen Elizabeth II on Friday.

In a rare show of royal diplomacy, he was welcomed by the Queen inside the Palace and was seen having a casual chat with her before the lunch. “Whether it be terrorism or global warming, to save humanity is the responsibility of every country, every citizen of the world”, he said.

He said there can not be a greater contradiction between what the government does and what the prime minister has said.

Mr Modi and prime minister David Cameron are due to sign deals between Indian and United Kingdom firms worth more than £9bn.

However, he has faced protests over his record as chief minister of Gujarat – including over riots in 2002 when more than a thousand Muslims were said to have died.