60,000 Brits will be at Wembley stadium to see David Cameron introduce Prime Minister from India Navendra Modi this week. This will be the culmination of Modi’s first visit to UK since being elected in May 2014. Modi will also lunch with The Queen at Buckingham Palace and will make an address to the Houses of Parliament. His previous wish to visit was blocked on allegations that he failed to stop anti-Muslim riots when Chief Minister of Gujurat in 2002. He has denied involvement in that and always has.
Modi is hoping to create new business ties between the UK and India and it is apparent that arrangements for India are not on the scale of the deals with China spawned by Xi Jinping’s recent visit.
The £2M rally at Wembley is regarded as the biggest reception ever afforded to a foreign politician visiting England. Prime guests are expected to bring a passport or driving licence to prove their identity. The rally will be broadcast live in India and the theme is “two great nations – one glorious future”. National Anthems for England and India will be sung by schoolchildren and and Modi is to make a speech which may last one hour. Conservative supporters regard this occasion as a good occasion for Cameron to also increase Conservative support in the next election. Cameron told Eastern Eye newspaper he is very excited by this visit and his opportunity to give Modi a warm welcome.
There still exits controversy over Modi’s earlier role regarding Muslim unrest but Jeremy Corbyn may also meet him whilst he is in UK. Primarily the very good relationship between India and the UK can be even more improved by dialogue and social interaction regarding the huge population India represents and this visit can only be a very good thing indeed. There should be improved trade and understanding on this auspicious occasion, and may there be many more chances for interaction to flourish and form close bonds.