Benjamin Netanyahu in Gujarat: Israeli PM leaves for Mumbai, to pay homage to 26/11 victims tomorrow
This is Modi's first visit to his home state after last year's assembly elections where the BJP barely managed to retain power.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu today held a roadshow in the city under a heavy security blanket as thousands of people lined up along the route to greet them.
In Gujarat for a day, Netanyahu visited Sabarmati Ashram where he and his wife tried their hand at charkha and kites.
Modi and Netanyahu later launched iCreate Center in Ahmedabad's Deo Dholera Village.
"When I went to Israel last year, I made up my mind that this foundation should have more strong relations with Israel. From that time, I was waiting for my friend Benjamin Netanyahu to come to India. He is here & now we are inaugurating this foundation," PM Modi said after inauguration of the iCreate Centre.
"The technology and creativity of Israel influence the world. Israel has proved it to the world that commitment of the people, not size of the nation takes the country forward," he added.
As it Happened:
05:25 pm: PM Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu e-inaugurated the Centre for Excellence for Date Palm, in Kukama under the India Israel Agriculture Plan. Another step in partnership that jointly addresses the issues of water-harvesting and agriculture: MEA India
05:10 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu visit Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Varad.
02:59 pm: Four days ago, ISRO made a century in satellite launching. Such success needs dedication, hard work & dreams. Such energy is filled in our scientists and youth: PM Modi
02:53 pm: We are working towards making entire system in our country innovation-friendly, so that- ideas are formed from intent, innovations are formed from ideas & New India is formed from innovations: PM Modi
02:50 pm: The technology and creativity of Israel influence the world. Israel has proved it to the world that commitment of the people, not size of the nation takes the country forward: PM Modi
02:40 pm: When I went to Israel last year, I made up my mind that this foundation should have more strong relations with Israel. From that time, I was waiting for my friend Benjamin Netanyahu to come to India. He is here and now we are inaugurating this foundation: PM Modi at iCreate centre.
02:30 pm: Jai Hind! Jai Bharat! Jai Israel! Thank you Prime Minister Modi, thank you all!: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu concludes his address at the iCreate centre.
02:21 pm: Many Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the liberation of Haifa were Gujaratis. Thank you Gujarat: Benjamin Netanyahu
02:19 pm: PM Modi and I are both very young and both very optimistic, we are young in our thinking and optimistic about the future: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu
02:18 pm: I am delighted to be here. The world knows about iPads and iPods, there is on more i that the world needs to know about, that is iCreate: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu
12:20 pm: PM Modi and Israel PM Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati ashram.
12:08 pm: Israeli PM Netanyahu, his wife try their hands on the 'Charkha'.
11:59 am: PM Modi, Israeli counterpart Netanyahu reach Sabarmati ashram.
11:50 pm: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and PM Narendra Modi reach Sabarmati ashram.
11:18 am: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, wife Sara reach Ahmedabad airport.
10:30 am: The 14-km-long roadshow will be heavily guarded by security forces including Israeli snipers along the route, where almost 50,000 people are expected to be present.
10:22 am: A km-long periphery will be turned into a fortress for almost half of the day, where 12 teams from 'Chetak commandos', the Quick Response Teams, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and police will be guarding the venues.
10:20 am: Modi and Netanyahu will also visit a Startup Exhibition and interact with innovators and Startup CEOs.
10:18 am: Both the leaders will dedicate a mobile water desalination van to Suigam Taluka, of Banaskantha district, through a video link.
10:11 am: The stages on the road show will depict Gujarat's cultural and heritage values by various artistes. There will be artistes from 22 states showcasing their traditional art and dances on these stages. Both the dignitaries will spend around 20 minutes at the ashram, where they will pay a floral tribute to the Father of the Nation.
09:39 am: Meanwhile, special squads will also be deployed at high-rise buildings along the route and also on the Sabarmati river in speedboats when both the dignitaries are in the ashram. Every spectator participating in the roadshow will be scrutinised in doorframe metal detectors at the special 20 entry gates erected for the purpose.
09:30 am: "Around 50 stages have been built along the roadside on the eight-kilometre stretch. Cultural programmes will be performed by troupes of different states as well as ethnicity to welcome the guests," Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's standing committee chairman Pravin Patel said.
09:22 am: The Israeli prime minister and his wife Sara will also pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati ashram. PM Modi and Netanyahu will also visit 'Hridaykunj' at the ashram and also try their hands on the 'Charkha'. The prime ministers will also visit the exhibition at the ashram. Netanyahu will be presented a copy of Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography, "My Experiments with Truth".
09:15 am: From the ashram, Modi and Netanyahu would go to 'iCreate', an autonomous centre of excellence near Bavla town close to the city. 'iCreate' was formally launched in 2011 by Modi when he was the chief minister. The institution mentors budding entrepreneurs and guides them to set up start-ups, according to an official.