Trump Praised India's Stand on Fight with Terrorism

India and the US are natural partners and both the countries are committed to defend their people from radical Islamic terrorism. This was the focal point of visiting US President Donald Trump’s riveting speech made before a capacity crowd at Motera stadium here on Monday. The crowd erupted in a thundering applause when the US President said his country “loves India and its people.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke both before and after the US President, hailed Trump’s visit as a “new chapter” in ties between the two countries.

Both the leaders made these points during a public event “Namaste Trump” at the new look Motera stadium shortly after Trump arrived here to commence his two-day visit to India. He was accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration.

Modi and Trump will hold talks in New Delhi on Tuesday wherein the two countries will ink a $3 billion defence deal for 24 Naval multi-role helicopters and six Apache attack helicopters for the Army.  While the Naval helicopter deal is about $2.6 billion, the Apache contract is over $980 million. Trump announced in his speech here about the two deals. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Modi had cleared the two defence deals last week.

While the chemistry between Modi and Trump was fully evident as the two leaders shared many hugs and heaped praise on each other in front of 1,00,000-strong enthusiastic crowd, the traditional and colourful welcome left the US President impressed.

“Five months ago, the US welcomed your PM at a giant football stadium, and you welcomed us at the world’s largest cricket stadium. Thank you for spectacular welcome. We will always remember this remarkable hospitality,” Trump said.

Known for his fondness to tweet, Trump earlier took to Twitter and tweeted messages in Hindi, including one expressing eagerness to visit India, to which Modi responded by tweeting the Sanskrit phrase, “Atithi Devo Bhava (guest is god)”.

Talking about India’s rich culture and extraordinary diversity repeatedly, Trump said India is always admired around the world as the place where millions of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Jews worship side by side in harmony as it has great tradition of embracing individual freedom, rule of law, dignity of every human being.

“The First Lady and I have travelled 8,000 mile around the globe to deliver the message to all citizens across this nation — America loves India, America respects India, and America will always be a faithful and loyal friend to the Indian people,” Trump said.