London: In his address to the British Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived in the United Kingdom on a three-day visit. He held bilateral talks with his British counterpart David Cameron at 10, Downing Street before addressing a joint press conference with the UK PM at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London. Later, PM Modi addressed the British Parliament where he was given a standing ovation.
While addressing a joint press conference with Britain Prime Minister David Cameron, Modi said that India is a land of Buddha and Gandhi and its culture does not accept anything that is against the basic social values. India does not accept intolerance even if it is one or two or three incidents. But for a country of 125 crore people whether it is significant or not, it does not matter. For us every incident is serious. We do not tolerate it.”
“Law takes strong action and will continue to do so. India is a vibrant democracy which under Constitution provides protection all citizens, their lives and thoughts. We are committed to it,” the Prime Minister added.
PM Modi’s visit here has seen USD 14 billion worth of business deals inked by enterprises of the sides, including a USD 4.4-billion investment by Britain’s OPG Power Ventures to add 4,200 MW capacity of new electricity generation in Tamil Nadu over the next few years.
Among the two-dozen pacts and investment commitments acknowledged by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and David Cameron was one by Merlin Entertainment to open the famed Madame Tussauds wax museum in New Delhi by early-2017 and another by Vodafone to invest $1.4 billion to support the Government of India’s “Digital India” and “Make in India” initiatives.
PM Modi told the British Parliament that India was the new bright spot of hope and opportunity as New Delhi and London signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. “The conclusion of the civil nuclear agreement is a symbol of our mutual trust and our resolve to combat climate change,” Modi said while issuing a joint statement along with British Premier David Cameron.
“The agreement for cooperation in India’s Global Centre for Clean Energy Partnerships will strengthen safety and security in the global nuclear industry,” he said. In a veiled reference to Pakistan, PM Modi said there should be a global resolve to “isolate” those who harbour terrorists and willingness to stand with nations that will fight them “honestly”.
Addressing MPs in British Parliament’s Royal Gallery, Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the UK in 10 years, said the world must speak in one voice and act in unison to combat terrorism, calling it a “challenge of our times.”
Bureau Report
Leave a Reply