PM Modi has started speaking with host Prasoon Joshi at 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath', a diaspora event in London. The event is currently being broadcast live.
The two leaders said trade between the UK and India had grown strongly over the last year and agreed to build on the recommendations of the UK-India joint trade review to reduce barriers to trade, to make it easier to do business in both countries and enable a stronger bilateral trade relationship for the future.
Both prime ministers discussed a new UK-India Tech Partnership, which will create thousands of jobs and generate significant investment in both our economies.
Here are the highlights of PM Modi's speech at the 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath' event:
My problem is not against criticism. To criticise, one has to research and find proper facts. Sadly, it does not happen now. What happens instead is allegations: PM @narendramodi
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
"Rape is rape, shouldn't be politicised": PM @narendramodi amid outrage over #KathuaCase https://t.co/YV2dvJMdfN pic.twitter.com/ntutppj4GL
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
"If you remember what condition the country was in earlier, you'll be able to make the difference. When I had become the CM, I had to learn a lot. People used to tell me that the one thing they wanted was electricity while having their meals. Gujarat became the first state to have 24x7 electricity. This was then. If you look at what we were and where we are, I think people will realise that we have left no stone unturned in bettering the condition of the country," says PM Modi.
"Rape is rape ... How can we accept this?" PM Modi said, adding that people needed to ask more questions of the perpetrators, reported news agency Reuters.
"This is a matter of great concern for the country and these sinners are somebody's sons... The rape of a (daughter) is a matter of worry, a shame for the country," he added.
"When someone comes to power in government, they want to do something. But the governments in our country have made the people dependent on them. I think that concept works against us. Instead, empower the poor. Create an ecosystem where people are not scared to do something. If they fall somewhere, the government can help them get up," said PM Modi.
One of the things I wanted to do in London was to pay homage to Bhagwan Basaveshwara: PM Modi.
"It is an unfortunate thing that after independence, there has been an effort to put an end to our culture and tradition. We do not know about our greatness. We talk about democratic values to people. Basaveshwara had called for this place where everyone used to come to discuss issues and come up with solutions. There was no question of caste or gender. Everyone was equal. He taught us what democracy is or what equality is. He had also said where there is stagnancy, there is an end. Where there is speed, there is growth," said PM Modi.
We have a million problems but we have a billion people who can solve them: PM @narendramodi in London
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
Watch LIVE now on https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 and https://t.co/QV4m2vmiIZ pic.twitter.com/jejIiB5u0z
"We are working with a holistic approach for the health sector at the same time we're working towards more cleanliness. Now if people call it Modicare so be it," he said.
"There are three things I want: education for students, employment for youth and medicines for the aged," said PM Modi.
"If one person in a family falls ill, everyone suffers. So we have taken a holistic approach for medical care. It has 2 components. First, we want to create more than 2 lakh wellness centres in the country and second, to strengthen preventive health. We are also working on women and child healthcare. We have extended maternity leaves to 26 weeks," he added.
"The medicines that used to be available for Rs 100 earlier are now available for Rs 15," PM Modi added.
"I had met the PM of Argentina who told me that when note bandi happened, me and my wife thought you were gone. The government was attacked on TV channels everywhere but I had faith in the people. I believed that they were ready to make a small sacrifice for honesty, transparency," said PM Modi.
I have tried to turn cooperative federalism to competitive cooperative federalism for India: PM Modi
"I had never thought that i could change the country alone. But I believe that if there are million problems then there are billion solutions too," said PM Modi, referring to the Indian population.
"There is no doubt in the country that I work hard. I do not have an influential grandfather or a grandmother. I come from nowhere and that is what i want to tell the people of the country. Even I am a simple man with the same kind of flaws that you have. I am just like you. I have a student inside me who tries to learn," PM Modi said.
18,000 villages did not have electricity. So many women do not have access to toilets. These realities of our nation did not let me sleep. I was determined to bring about a positive change in the lives of India's poor: PM @narendramodi in London pic.twitter.com/G2gUxrQuCQ
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
"Informed Pakistan about 2016 #surgicalstrikes before announcement made in India," says PM @narendramodi in London
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 pic.twitter.com/mk4f0WfV35
"A poor woman has to wait till the sun sets to go to the bathroom. Imagine the kind of pain she goes through. I had decided to change this and that has resulted in open-defecation free places," he said.
"Even today, 4 crore families in our country are living without electricity. I have made a decision to change this. I want to empower the poor for them to fight for the poor in order to destroy poverty," he added.
"Everytime in our country. It's always the woman who is questioned. The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son," said PM Modi.
"We have such good policies. In spite of that, it is not reaching the people. When a child is raped, we cannot compare these incidents in numbers for different governments. Rape is rape, he said.
Look back at India's history. India has never desired anyone else's territory. During World War 1 and 2 we had no stake but our soldiers took part in the wars. These were big sacrifices. Look at our role in UN Peacekeeping forces: PM @narendramodi at #BharatKiBaatSabkeSaath event pic.twitter.com/V5QP12s1Tp
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
"We have always informed them whenever we have retaliated. We informed them too, that we have done what we think is just. We never hid anything. They (Pakistan) should know that India has changed now," said PM Modi.
"We informed them about surgical strikes too. That we have done what we think is just. We never hid anything. They (Pakistan) should know that India has changed now," he said.
"Surgical strike is embedded in the history of India. In any era, India never tried to take over the land of any other country. Very few people know that in World War I and II, we did not have to capture anyone's land, neither did we need to fight for ourselves. India is one greatest peacekeeping forces in the world. It has never been in the character of India to capture someone's land. But if someone is trying to attack the people of my country, kill them, attack even if they do not have the force and attack from the back when they do not have the guts to face us, then Modi knows how to give the right answer," says PM Modi.
"We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted," he said.
Days of incremental change are over, says PM @narendramodi at #BharatKiBaatSabkeSaath event at London's Central Hall Westminster
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
Watch LIVE on https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 and NDTV 24X7 pic.twitter.com/hwYlqOBfpC
WATCH | Life at railway station taught me a lot, says PM @narendramodi in London
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
https://t.co/BCgjvFlRLf pic.twitter.com/FsxMG7ct3n
"Democracy is not a labour contract, it is about participation. When there is a natural calamity. More than the government, the people unite and play a greater role," he said.
"I look at it in a different manner. The moment we start becoming content, life stops there and then. In every age, in every era, I every condition, we should always try to do something new. That motive gives speed and if someone says that impatience is bad, I would say they've become old," says PM Modi.
"I am happy that today there is a ambition in the heat of 1.500 crore Indians. A lot of you, who must have left the country long back would not know that about fifteen to twenty years back, when the country was in crisis. People were impatient even then," said PM Modi.
"Greetings to all the Indians present here. I am grateful to all of you that i got the chance of this visit. Its easy for you to make poetic reference but the journey of life is very difficult ," says PM Modi.
PM Modi has arrived at the 'Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath' event. He has reached the stage and will start speaking soon.
Host Prasoon Joshi takes over the stage at #Bharatkibaatsabkesaath pic.twitter.com/OtVIAqRlPa
- Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath (@bharatbaat) April 18, 2018
NDTV spoke to the Indian community who are attending PM narendra Modi's address in London. A group pf Indians held silent protests outside the venue, expressing their anger and sorrow at the recent rape cases in India that caught international attention. PM Modi is in the UK on a four-day visit.
British PM Theresa May and PM Modi participated at a business event in London, the India-UK CEOs Forum. The event was held for strengthening business ties between India and the UK. The forum was attended by 30 CEOs from India and the UK.
Getting ready for #BharatKiBaatSabkeSaath with @narendramodi on April 18. pic.twitter.com/4ZGFcVr0DB
- Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath (@bharatbaat) April 17, 2018
Bhagwan Basaveshwara devoted his life towards furthering social equality and empowering the poor. He was committed to democratic values and believed in the power of debate and discussion.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2018
I welcome the UK joining the International Solar Alliance. This gives strength to the fight against global warming. We are doing this for the wellbeing of our future generations: PM @narendramodi
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 18, 2018
PM @theresa_may, I am glad to begin my programmes in the UK with this meeting. I thank you for the gesture of Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs @BorisJohnson welcoming me. This gesture shows your respect for 125 crore Indians: PM Modi to PM May pic.twitter.com/jlZBsYhvQP
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 18, 2018
According to government sources, PM Modi has raised the issue of Vijay Mallya's extradition with British Prime Minister Theresa May.
On his UK visit, PM Modi paid floral tributes at the bust of Lingayat philosopher and social reformer Basaveshwara at Albert Embankment Gardens on the Thames river in London.
The event was organised by The Basaveshwara Foundation, a non-profit organistion based in the UK. The organisation had earlier installed the statue of Basaveshwara, according to news agency PTI.
According to a PTI report, India has recognised Basaveshwara as one of the pioneers of democracy and his statue was installed in the Indian Parliament during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
India had also released a coin and a postal stamp as a mark of respect for Basaveshwara and his contribution to Indian society, according to news agency PTI.
PM @narendramodi pays tributes to Bhagwan Basaveshwara in London. pic.twitter.com/QS1xJNBi1D
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 18, 2018
The Prince and @narendramodi watch a performance by the Akademi South Asian dance group at the @sciencemuseum.#CHOGM2018 pic.twitter.com/bgtBlIqeMP
- Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) April 18, 2018
#InPics | PM @narendramodi and Prince Charles at the exhibition on '5000 Years of Science and Innovation' in London, earlier today
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
pic.twitter.com/DXeNpV31W5
PM @narendramodi meets British Prime Minister @theresa_may over breakfast; to meet Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace later today
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
Read more about his four-day London visit: https://t.co/JV0TkH7WF5 pic.twitter.com/S7XR9iOlMA
WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Prince Charles in London
- NDTV (@ndtv) April 18, 2018
Read more here: https://t.co/k2ICemZHpQ pic.twitter.com/siUBJA4ozh
Prime Minister Modi is also expected to welcome the UK into the International Solar Alliance, as its newest member. This will be followed by PM Modi attending a special technology event hosted for him by Prince Charles.
The 'Tech Summit' is part of India-UK bilateral ties. Prince Charles is expected to drive in to the event in a fully electric Jaguar for the first time. Jaguar-Land Rover has made tremendous strides since it was taken over by the Tata's.
From here, PM Modi will have a brief stop to garland the Basaveshwara statue, which he had inaugurated during his last visit to the UK in 2015, on the banks of the river Thames. This will be followed by his second meeting with Theresa May at an event hosted by the British prime minister at the Francis Crick Institute.
Prime Minister Modi will then have an interaction with Indian-origin scientists working on cancer research, malaria and other tropical diseases. Both he and Prime Minister May will initiate the India-UK CEOs Forum, where both prime ministers will interact with top CEO's from India and the UK to take business interests forward.
During the talks, PM Modi and PM May discussed a wide range of issues, including cross-border terrorism, immigration and visas. They met at the British PM's official residence at 10, Downing Street.
Both the prime ministers are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding or MoU on the return of illegal immigrants. The agreement had expired in 2014. India and the UK are expected to sign around dozen agreements across different sectors.