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Translation of Opening remarks by Prime Minister at the Namaste Trump Event, Ahmedabad

February 24, 2020

Bharat Mata ki .....! Bharat Mata ki ……! Bharat Mata ki…!
Namaste Trump!, Namaste Trump!,


I will say India-US friendship, you will say ‘long live’, ‘long live’. India-US friendship........ India-US friendship........ India-US friendship........

Namaste! Today a new history is being made in the Motera Stadium. Today we are also seeing history repeating itself. Five months ago, I started my US trip with the Howdy Modi program in Houston, and today my friend President Donald Trump is starting his historic visit to India with 'Namaste Trump' in Ahmedabad.

You can imagine that he has arrived here directly from America. Landing in India after such a long journey, President Trump and his family went directly to Sabarmati Ashram and then came to this event.

We welcome you from the heart to the world's largest democracy. This land belongs to Gujarat, but it is the enthusiasm of the whole of India that welcomes you. This enthusiasm, this sound echoing to the sky, this entire atmosphere, from the airport to the stadium here, seems to be colored in the colors of India's diversity everywhere. And in the midst of all this, the presence of President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Ivanka and Jared; arrival of the President Trump with his family gives the relations between India and America the sweetness and intimacy which are the identity of a unified family. India-USA relations are no longer just another partnership. It is a far greater and closer relationship.

The meaning of name of this program is 'Namaste', is also very deep. It is a word in 'Sanskrit', one of the oldest languages in the world. It’s essence is that we salute not only the person but also the divinity within him. I congratulate the people of Gujarat, and the people of other states living in Gujarat for such a grand ceremony.

Mr. President, Friends, today you are in the land where you can find the five thousand years old planned city of Dholavira and also the similarly old Lothal Sea Port. Today, you are on the banks of the Sabarmati river, which holds an important place in India's independence struggle. You are in an India which is full of diversity, where hundreds of languages are spoken, there are hundreds of different kinds of attires, there are hundreds of different kinds of cuisine, where there are many creeds and communities.

This Rich Diversity, Unity in diversity and unity's vibrancy is the key to a strong relationship between India and America. While one is the 'land of the free', the other considers the whole world as one family. One is proud of the Statue of Liberty and the other is proud of the Statue of Unity of Sardar Patel, the tallest statue in the world. There is so much that we share, shared values and ideals, shared spirit of enterprise and innovation, shared opportunities and challenges, shared hopes and aspirations.

I am happy that the friendship of India and America has deepened under President Trump's leadership; as such this visit of President Trump is a new chapter in the India-America relationship. It is a chapter that will become the new document of progress and prosperity for the people of America and India. Friends, President Trump thinks big, and the world is well aware of what he has done to make the American Dream come true. Today we extend special greetings to the entire Trump family.

First Lady Melania Trump, your presence here is a subject of great honor for us. What you have done for Healthy and Happy America is getting good results. What you are doing for the children in the society is admirable. You say, ‘Be Best’. In today’s welcome ceremony, you must have felt that same sentiment in the people here. Ivanka, you had come to India two years ago. You had said then, that you would like to come to India again. I am glad that you are among us again today. We welcome you again.

Jared, it is your specialty that you stay away from the limelight, but the work you do is very effectual, it has far-reaching consequences. Whenever I get a chance to meet you, you also keep discussing about your Indian friends. After meeting you and seeing you here, I am very happy.

Friends, today every Indian, American, as well as the whole world wants to listen to President Trump from this platform. After his address, while extending to him my thanks, I will talk to you all a bit more.

I invite President Trump on behalf of one hundred thirty crore Indians.

Friends, I present to you my friend, India’s friend, the President of the United States of America Mr. Donald Trump. We will all stand up and say Namaste Trump, Namaste Trump.

Disclaimer: PM's speech was delivered in Hindi. This is an approximate translation of the speech.
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