PM Narendra Modi-Bibi bonhomie on full display

By DP Bhattacharya, Dipanjan Roy Choudhury

GANDHINAGAR: The Indo-Isralei bonhomie was on full display as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visited the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Modi received Netanyahu and his wife Sara at Ahmedabad International Airport and held an 8-km roadshow before arriving at Sabarmati Ashram.

While the initial plan was to hold roadshow in an open vehicle, keeping security concerns in mind the leaders travelled in a bulletproof vehicle. About 50 stages were erected along the route where traditional folk dancers presented a glimpse of Indian culture to the visiting leader.


The duo later visited Sabarmati Ashram. They also tried their hands at flying kites in the Ashram. Later, they inaugurated iCreate Centre of Excellence at Devdholera village in Bavla in the outskirts of Ahmedabad. The centre was conceived by Modi back in 2012 as the Gujarat CM.

Netanyahu gifted Modi the desalination vehicle that he rode during his visit to Israel. Netanyahu said PM Modi is “changing India by the force and vision of his leadership”. “He is revolutionising India and is catapulting it into one of the great powers of the world,” he added, before concluding his speech with “Jai Hind, Jai Bharat and Jai Israel”.