AHEMADABAD: U.S. President Donald Trump vowed on Monday to boost trade tiesbetween the United States and India, and said the United States wasprepared to supply India with defence equipment ranging from drones tohelicopters and missile systems.
We look forward to providing the “best and most feared military equipment”to India, said Trump, while addressing a crowd of more than 100,000 peopleat a stadium in Gujarat, shortly after arriving on his maiden visit to thecountry.
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Trump arrived in India on Monday for a lightning visit featuring a hugerally at the world’s biggest cricket stadium and other high-profile photoopportunities, but likely short on concrete achievements.
Trade tensions have grown between the world’s two biggest democracies asTrump’s “America First” drive collides with fellow protectionist strongmanPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” mantra.
The billionaire and the tea seller’s son were due to address a huge rallyof around 100,000 people at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Modi’shome state before Trump and First Lady Melania fly to the Taj Mahal towatch the sunset.
Excited crowds began queueing at 4:00 am to get into the brand new stadiumfor the “Namaste Trump” rally, payback for a “Howdy Modi” event in Houstonlast year in front of cheering Indian-Americans where Trump likened Modi toElvis Presley.
“We hope the US liberalises its visa regime for skilled workers. They needit and India has too many young skilled and talented people,” said studentMaunas Shastri.
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Preparations have been feverish for the visit, with workers rushing tofinish the stadium and building a wall that locals said was to hide a slum.Stray dogs, cows and monkeys have been moved away.
Parts of the Taj Mahal, the white marble “jewel of Muslim art” according toUNESCO, were given a mud-pack facial to remove stains while efforts wereundertaken to lessen the stench of the adjacent river.
Trump told a rally on Thursday that “six to 10 million people” would bealong the route of his motorcade, but this appears to have been amisunderstanding. Organisers said there will be tens of thousands.
Thousands of posters with the words were erected every 10 metres (yards)along Ahmedabad’s major roads. Sellers of flags and masks of Modi and Trumpwere doing brisk business.
Trump tweeted en route to India — in Hindi — that he was “eager to come toIndia” while Modi responded by saying that “guests are next to God”, awell-known saying. – APP / AFP
