Month: February 2020

India and the US on Tuesday further strengthened their defence cooperation, with the two countries signing an agreement allowing India the sale of more than USD 3 Billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters.

“Earlier today we expanded our defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than US$ 3 Bn of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo Helicopters – finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defence capabilities,” President Trump said addressing the joint presser with PM Modi.

The statement by both the leaders during their joint presser had a significant portion devoted to defence relations. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed how India’s defence capabilities have increased due to the growing cooperation with the US on modern military machines and technologies, President Trump pointed out that the two countries decided to expand defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than USD 3 billion of advanced American military equipment.

A day earlier, during his address at “Namaste Trump” event in Motera Stadium, the US President had confirmed that the two countries would sign the defence agreement.

“I am pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over USD 3 Billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces,” Trump had said.

“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. But this includes advanced air defence systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles,” the US President had told the gathering.

On his part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted that the two of them had a positive discussion on every aspect of India-US relationship.

“…Be it defence and security, energy strategic partnership, technology cooperation, global connectivity, trade relation or people to people ties. The growing cooperation between India and the US on defence and security is an important aspect of our strategic partnership. Due to cooperation on modern military hardware and platform, India’s defence capabilities have increased,” said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said our defence manufacturers are becoming a part of each other’s supply chains.

The last few years have seen the two countries concluding a number of important military agreements such as LEMOA, COMCASA, the interoperability between the military of two countries have grown.

ANI

A meeting was held by Union Home Minister Amit Shah late Tuesday night with senior Delhi Police officers and top Home Ministry officials on the law and order situation in Delhi.

Protests related to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) took a violent turn at various places in North-East District of Delhi on Monday in which five people, including one police head constable, lost their lives and 105 got injured in the clashes.

Delhi Police stated that the “situation is very tense.”

“We are continuously receiving calls related to incidents of violence from North-East Delhi. Commissioner of Police held a meeting at Seelampur DCP Office last night,” police stated.

Five Delhi Metro stations including Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar stations on the Pink Line Metro will remain closed and trains are being terminated at Welcome Metro Station.

“Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar remain closed. Trains are being terminated at Welcome metro station,” Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted.

Meanwhile, an additional 35 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in North-East Delhi, along with Special Cell, Crime Branch and Economic Offences Wing officials, on Tuesday following violence in the area which led to the deaths of seven persons in clashes between pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters yesterday.

Delhi Police in a statement said, “35 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in North-East Delhi along with Special Cell, Crime Branch and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) officials. Local police from different districts of Delhi have also been called in.”

Speaking to media, Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police said: “We are continuously taking action and additional forces have been deployed in Brahampuri, Maujpur, Chand Bagh, and other areas.”

Welcoming US President Donald Trump and his delegation to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he is grateful to American President for India visit despite “busy” schedule.

“I welcome you (US President Donald Trump) and the US delegation to India. I know that you are busy these days, still, you took out time for the visit to India. I am grateful to you for this,” said PM Modi, before holding talks with President Donald Trump.

Trump thanked the Prime Minister, saying that the last two days were “amazing”. On the first day of his visit, Trump landed in Ahmedabad and stopped over in Agra.

In the Gujrati city, he alongside Modi, addressed a mammoth crowd of over one lakh spectators during the ‘Namaste Trump’ event at Motera Stadium. Later, the US President visited the Taj Mahal in Agra with First Lady Melania Trump before arriving in the national capital.

Trump asserted that people in India love Modi, saying “Every time I mentioned you (during Motera address), they cheered more.”

“The last two days, especially yesterday at the stadium, it was a great honour for me. People were there maybe more for you (PM Modi) than for me. 125 thousand people were inside. Every time I mentioned you, they cheered more. People love you here,” Trump said.

The two leaders will also hold delegation-level talks. This will be followed by the signing of agreements between the two sides and a press statement by both leaders.

Among others, the two sides will sign deals worth USD 3 billion for the supply of choppers for the Indian Army and Navy. Trump had himself confirmed the same during his address at the ‘Namaste Trump’ event in Ahmedabad on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Trump was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Later today, the US President will hold a presser and attend a state banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind in his honour before departing at 10 pm.

(ANI)

Heaping praises on India, US President Donald Trump on Monday said the country has become an economic giant, largest democracy ever to exist and one of the most amazing nations in just 70 years.

While addressing the large crowd of 1,00,000 people at the Motera Stadium during ‘Nameste Trump’ event, US President Donald Trump said, “In just 70 years India has become economic giant, largest democracy ever to exist and one of the most amazing nation anywhere in the world,”

“Story of the Indian nation is the tale of astonishing progress, a miracle of democracy, extraordinary diversity above all strong and noble people India gives to the whole humanity,” he added.

Trump addressed the gathering after receiving a raucous welcome upon his arrival at the stadium. He and Prime Minister Modi were treated to a glittering and mesmerising performance by artists, who exhibited the essence of India’s diversity.

Trump began his speech by greeting the crowd with ‘Namaste’ and it was full of praises for India, its people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Eugolising Prime Minister Modi, US President Donald Trump said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi started out as ‘tea wallah’ but he is very tough and everybody loves him.

“We will always remember this remarkable hospitality. India will hold a special place in our hearts. PM Modi started out as ‘tea wallah’, he worked as a tea seller. Everybody loves him but I will tell you this, he is very tough. India a miracle of democracy,” Trump said.

Prior to ‘Namaste Trump’ event, the US President and his wife also had a short stopover at Sabarmati Ashram, where the couple spun a Charkha, which is closely associated with India’s freedom struggle and Mahatma Gandhi.

President Trump also said America will always be a faithful and loyal friend to the Indian people. “America loves India, America respects India and America will always be a faithful and loyal friend to the Indian people,” said Trump.

The US President also said that five months ago America welcomed the “great Prime Minister” at a giant football stadium in Texas and today India welcomes him at the world’s largest cricket stadium right here in Ahmedabad.

Further appreciating India, the visiting dignitary remarked that PM Modi is a tremendously successful leader of the vast Indian republic, adding that last year more than 600 million people went to the polls and gave him a landslide victory in the largest democratic elections anywhere on earth.

“You are living proof that with hard work and devotion Indian cam accomplish anything they want,” he stressed. (ANI)

(ANI)

Awestruck by the beauty of Taj Mahal, US President Donald Trump on Monday said the 17th-century monument is a timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture.

“The Taj Mahal inspires awe, a timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian culture. Thank you India,” Trump wrote in the visitors’ book.

With the picturesque backdrop of setting sun, Donald Trump and wife Melania appreciated the grandeur of the Taj Mahal.

Assisted by a guide, the couple took a stroll hand-in-hand at the Taj Mahal lawns. They also posed for a picture at Diana’s bench.

Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner too accompanied the President and were seen posing for the pictures at the 17th-century monument built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

The structure with white marble domes and minarets became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1983. Regarded as the monument to love, the Taj Mahal attracts millions of visitors every year.

More than 40 foreign dignitaries have visited the Taj Mahal so far, including Princess Diana, Prince William and wife Kate Middleton, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife among others.

Upon his arrival at the Agra airport, the Trumps were received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Several folk artists performed at the airport to welcome the visiting dignitaries.

(ANI)

Police have brought the situation in Maujpur area under control, where stone-pelting took place between two groups earlier in the day, Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range), Alok Kumar said here on Sunday.

Kumar said that stones were also pelted at the police personnel deployed in the area.

“Stones were also pelted at the police. The situation has been brought under control. Adequate personnel have been deployed and police are conducting flag marches,” Kumar said.

The clash started after two groups, one protesting against the CAA and the other supporting it came face to face in Maujpur. Thye started pelted stones at each other. The police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mobs.

Maujpur is close to Jaffarabad metro station area, where women are holding a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) amid heavy security.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) at around 5 pm said that the entry and exit gates of Maujpur and Babarpur metro stations have been closed.

Earlier in the day, the entry and exit gates at Jaffarabad had also been closed in the morning due to the anti-CAA protest.

Protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which began late Saturday evening at Jaffarabad metro station continued today.

(ANI)

Motera Stadium, the world’s largest cricket ground, is all set to host the much-anticipated event of the year — ‘Namaste Trump’ — which will see the participation of two prominent world leaders, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Monday, a massive crowd of over one lakh people are expected to welcome Trump at the newly-renovated Motera Stadium, also known as Sardar Patel Stadium. The US President, along with Modi, will address the mega event, which is being organised on the lines of last September’s ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Texas.

The programme will be a pomp-filled spectacle as several prominent artists will perform at the stadium.

Last week, Trump had expressed his excitement over visiting the largest stadium in the world.

“I happen to like Prime Minister Modi a lot. He told me we will have seven million people between the airport and the event. It is going to be the largest stadium in the world. It is going to be very exciting,” the US President had said.

The Motera Stadium has been completely rebuilt after demolishing the old one, which was constructed in 1982 and had a seating capacity of 49,000 people. Spread over 64 acres and one of the dream projects of Prime Minister Modi, it was completed in two years at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore.

With this, Motera Stadium, or the Sardar Patel Stadium, has replaced the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia to become the world’s largest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 1,10,000 people. Reactions poured in from all over the country when the BCCI has released the aerial view of the stadium on Twitter.

Security has been tightened in the city especially around the stadium ahead of the high-profile visit with sky patrolling being conducted over the ground and nearby areas on Saturday. Besides attending the ‘Namaste Trump’ event, the US President is scheduled to visit the Gandhi Ashram in Sabarmati.

Later in the day, Trump is slated to visit the renowned Taj Mahal in Agra.

On Tuesday morning, the US President will first receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as per the protocol. The visiting dignitary will visit Rajghat where he will pay floral tributes at the ‘samadhi’ of Mahatma Gandhi.

The two leaders will then meet at the Hyderabad House and will lead official state meetings.

On Tuesday, Trump will also meet executives of Indian companies with business interests in the United States — at an event organized by the US embassy in the national capital. The companies likely to attend the meeting include the Indian oil and gas company Reliance Industries, Tata Sons, Bharat Forge, and Mahindra and Mahindra.

Trump’s visit will conclude with an early banquet dinner, following which he will depart for Washington.

(ANI)