Indian PM Modi due to arrive in UK for three-day visit

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to arrive in the UK later for a three-day visit as a guest of his British counterpart, David Cameron.

The first day of the visit will be marked by a Red Arrows flypast before Mr Modi makes a speech to Parliament.

A highlight is expected to be Mr Modi's address to huge crowds at London's Wembley Stadium on Friday night.

Mr Cameron said the visit marked "a historic opportunity" for Britain and India to help each other prosper.

"It's an opportunity for two countries, tied by history, people and values, to work together to overcome the biggest challenges of our age," Mr Cameron said.

"Prime Minister Modi and I intend to grab that opportunity with both hands."

Mr Modi said the aim of the visit was to strengthen "co-operation with a traditional friend".

The visit comes at an unsettled time in India, where Mr Modi's Hindu-nationalist party lost a recent regional election.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered the defeat in the northern Indian state of Bihar, amid concerns over a rise in religious intolerance in India.

His supporters will hope his visit will put him on the global stage and help him spring back from that defeat.

But protests are planned outside Downing Street with opponents dressing all in white, the colour of mourning in India.

Campaigners from the UK-based Awaaz Network say they are against Mr Modi's "violent authoritarian agenda that seeks to undermine India's democratic and secular fabric".

 

(BBC)