Modi's U.S. Visit

                        Washington/New Delhi, Sep 23   Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a packed

schedule during his Sep 26-30 visit to the US.

                     Sep 26:     Arrives in New York, stays at New York Palace Hotel; Mayor Bill de

Blasio calls on Modi. Meets Nobel Prize-winning scientist Harold Eliot Varmus, director of

the National Cancer Institute.

                     Sep 27:     Visits Ground Zero and 9/11 memorial; participates in the General

Debate of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly - on the theme "Delivering on and

implementing a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda"; bilateral meetings with

Ban Ki-Moon, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sushil Koirala and Sheikh Hasina; to meet former New

York mayor Michael Bloomberg; addresses annual Global Citizen Festival at Central Park;

meets group of eminent Indian-Americans.

                    Modi would also meet the governors of three US states - New York's Andrew

Cuomo, South Carolina's Nikki Haley and Maryland's Martin O'Malley.

                    Sep 28:    Addresses Indian-American community reception at the Madison

Square Garden in midtown Manhattan; meet representatives of the Sikh community in the

US and Canada.

                     Modi would meet 10 distinguished Persons of Indian Origin. He will also meet

members of the US Jewish community and attend a dinner reception at The Pierre, a

luxurious heritage hotel owned by India's Taj hotels, hosted by Indian Ambassador to the

US, S.A. Jaishankar. The dinner reception would be attended by Indian Americans and

Persons of Indian Origin.

                     Sep 29:    Breakfast meeting with top CEOs of 11 US companies and later one-

on-one meetings with six CEOS. The companies include Boeing, Pepsico, General Electric,

Google, Goldman Sachs. Individual meetings with eminent people and with the

intelligentsia; meets the Clintons in the morning; addresses Council on Foreign Relations, a

leading think tank; leaves for Washington.

                    Arrives in Washington in the afternoon, checks into Blair House, the presidential

state guest house across the street from the White House; private dinner with President

Barack Obama at the White House.

                      Sep 30: Visits Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. memorial and Gandhi statue

in front of the Indian embassy in Washington; formal summit meeting with Obama at the

White House; lunch with Joe Biden and John Kerry.......     more >>

New York's Navratri revellers await PM Modi's arrival

             
                      New York, Sept. 26  This 'Navratri', the festive air at the Geeta Temple Ashram

in Elmhurst, New York, has taken on a new flavour, with devotees eagerly looking forward to

the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from India.

                      The nine day 'Navratri' festival, which includes fasting, praying and dancing to

please the mother goddess, has taken off splendidly at the 40-year-old temple in New York.

The joy of devotees has received a tremendous boost as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has

 already left for his five-day visit to USA.

                      Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shri Satyanandji Maharaj the President of Shree

Geeta Temple Ashram, said, "Prime Minister Modi and I know each other for around fifty

years. His memory power is very good. He can recall any person who had met him even

forty years back. I met him five years back when the president of Geeta Mandir expired in

India."

                     I cannot express how happy I was when he became the Prime Minister of India.

It is not about only belonging to Gujarat (Prime Minister Modi's home state), but when a

person like him becomes the Prime Minister, everyone would have been happy about it,

                     Prime Minister Modi's work and persona is such that people invite him on their

own. It is a matter of immense pride that he is adding to the pride of our country,  he

concluded.

                     The Geeta Temple Ashram in Elmhurst, Queens, serves the Hindu community in

New York with programmes, rituals, and festivals on a regular basis, and was established

by Swami Jagdishwarananda in 1979 with the help of devotees.

                     Some of the regular temple visitors marvel at the fact that Prime Minister

Narendra Modi will be fasting during his entire visit, which boasts of a packed schedule.

                     Vibha, who has been with the Shree Geeta Temple in Elmhurst since the last 24

 years, told ANI, "It is a matter of great pride that PM Modi is keeping his fast even after

keeping such a packed schedule. It reflects the discipline and values that have been

imbibed in him."

                     A number of Gujaratis present at the event said that they have been to Gujarat

and seen the transformation. Their American friends are also curious to know more about

Prime minister Modi.

                     Jayesh Bhat, a reserved priest of the temple, said, "It is a big proud moment for

all of us who are living in the U.S. and since he won with majority, broke all the records in

the world, so everyone is giving him the respect."

                     Being a Gujarati myself, everybody out here is asking us about him. What he will

be doing, and we tell them that he has developed Gujarat already and is now concentrating

on the whole country. So in the future you will see the difference in next few months,  he

added.

                    Every Navratri, ten nights of 'garba ' are held at the Geeta Temple in Elmhurst,

New York. Young men and women come here every evening to participate in the 'garba'

dance.

PM Modi inaugurates food park in Karnataka

                     NEW DELHI: Inaugurating an 'Intergrated Food Park' at Tumkur in Karnataka,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that Indian farmers should be given

access to global markets. "For farmers to develop economically they need to be given

facilities for better growth," Modi said.

                   "Farmers work to provide for us, but if they are not developed then where will

they go? Therefore there needs to be value addition," Modi said. "Mangoes if made into

pickles get more revenue for the farmers. Farmers need to be taken to the global market,"

 Modi said by way of example.

                   Modi stressed on the need for preventing wastage of food products. "Preventing

wastage of food and agricultural commodities can help save up to Rs 40,000-crore per

annum," Modi said. "We will encourage public-private partnership in food processing. I

asked softdrink makers if 5 per cent fruit juice can be mixed in aerated drinks," he added.

                   Talkig about the need for better state-centre coordination, Modi said, "Centre and 

states should work together for nation's development. PM and CM may belong to any party,

the nation is one. We all have to walk shoulder to shoulder." "When the states become

stronger the nation will become stronger, when states progress the nation will progress," he

emphasised.

                      On Monday, Food processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had said that the

government will approve 17 food parks across the country over the next few months,

attracting investments of about Rs 2,100 crore.

                      Sharing the initiatives taken by the ministry since the new government took

charge in May, Badal said the government has sanctioned 20 new cold chain projects.

It is also exploring the new scheme for infrastructure and cluster development, she added.

                      Under the scheme (2008-09) of mega food parks, government has sanctioned

42 projects throughout the country, Of this, 25 projects are presently under implementation

in various states. For the remaining 17, the ministry has received 72 eligible expressions of

interest" Badal said.

Narendra Modi congratulates Isro scientists

                      BANGALORE: "Aaj MOM ka Mangal se milan ho gaya, aur Mangal ko MOM mil

gayi," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said congratulating scientists from the Indian Space

Research Organisation (Isro) for putting India on the world map of space exploration and

becoming the first to have a successful Mars mission on debut.

                     Stating that he had complete confidence that "MOM would never disappoint," he

said he knew it as soon as the short name for the Mars Orbiter Mission became 'MOM'.

In a speech riddled with metaphors, Modi urged Indians to take pride in Isro's achievement.

                     When our cricket team wins a tournament and returns, the entire country

rejoices, this is an achievement greater by a 1,000 times," he said, and added that every

school and college must dedicate 5 minutes celebrating this.

                     "History has been created  We've dared to reach out into the unknown and

achieved the near impossible," he said in English soon after.

                      Alternating between Hindi and English, his efforts were deliberate and struck

an immediate chord with the scientists, many of who interrupted his speech with

applauses.

                     The sheer distance covered, the effort to communicate with the spacecraft and

the "agony-strichen wait," Modi said, deserved recognition.

                      Sometimes we flip when we order a parata and get a roti on our plate. Imagine t

the wait, without knowing how the spacecraft has received it and how it's going to react," he asked.

                      That India might be the first nation to tell the world about the presence of

methane on Mars despite all odds having been against us, he said is proof that our s

scientists can challenge anybody in the world.

                      And this, we must remember has come from our ancestors who'd given the

world Zero, predicted eclipses accurately, discover planetary positions. Today we've

honoured our ancestors and inspired our next generation," he said.

                      Complementing Isro for cultivating a culture of progressively nurturing young

talent in line with our ancient "guru shishya parampara," he said we must push our

boundaries further.

Modi visit offers golden opportunity

                    Washington, Sep 24 As the US prepares to welcome Indian Prime Minister 

Narendra Modi on a landmark visit this week, several commentators have suggested ways

of what they call kick-starting the US-Indian strategic partnership.

                   Modi's visit to Washington will provide the two countries with "a golden

opportunity to repair their faltering partnership," wrote Ashley J. Tellis, senior associate at

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a leading Washington think tank.

                   Tellis, who was involved as an adviser in negotiating the civil nuclear agreement

with India, wrote, "Modi can, through the conduct of his diplomacy during this visit, do the

three things necessary to renew bilateral ties in their most fundamental terms."

"First, Modi must build personal relationships with key interlocutors," he suggests.

                  Modi's second task is to rejuvenate the concept of "strategic partnership," Tellis

wrote noting during then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure, the US-Indian

relationship acquired genuine depth for the first time since the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

                 Modi's third task during his visit will be to co-opt American civil society to support

India's development, he said.

                 "What the US-Indian relationship desperately needs for lasting success at this

juncture is not more activities, regardless of how valuable or well-intentioned those may

be," Tellis wrote.

                 "Rather," President Barack Obama and Modi "should seek a genuine rediscovery

and reaffirmation of the fundamentals that brought the two countries together in the first place."

                  Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Daniel Twining, senior fellow for Asia at the

German Marshall Fund of the United States, suggested "America anticipates an Indian

resurgence that could tilt Asia's power balance in a democratic direction and drive global growth."

                 Obama and Modi, he said, "should embrace an agenda that strengthens their role

as democratic and economic counterweights to growing global disorder."

                  "A thriving India could also uplift the region, including troubled Pakistan. As

sectarian violence engulfs the Middle East, India and its nearly 200 million Muslims

exemplify relative tolerance," Twining wrote.

                   "The United States has a considerable stake in India's success" he wrote. "Modi

urgently needs to revitalize India's economic fortunes and manage pressing security

challenges. For both he could use, and deserves, American help."

                    Richard M. Rossow, the Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Centre

for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank noted that since

Modi's election people have been wondering whether his development record in Gujarat

can be replicated nationally.

                    "Most people take this to be a polar question-either 'yes' or 'no.' The reality is

likely to be somewhere in between," he wrote in a commentary.

                     "There will be a stronger emphasis on the economy, greater direction in

policymaking, and faster decision-making. India will not be completely transformed

overnight, or even within five years,".    more >>

Bill Gates meets PM Modi in Delhi

                  New Delhi American magnate Bill Gates met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here

on Friday.

                  Earlier in the day, he also met Union Ministers M.Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin

Gadkari.

                  During his meeting with Naidu, Gates said, "We are thrilled to see the ministers'

and the Prime Minister's commitment for providing great sanitation. We totally agree in that

cause and are very excited to be a partner to the ministry looking at new technologies

which should be very helpful. It is a start of a strong partnership."

                  While Naidu said, "Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is involved in India in big

way, today we discussed ways of further strengthening our partnership. New innovative

approach to sanitation, need to build capacity among people and creating awareness

among people, these are the areas which we have discussed."

                  Earlier on Thursday, Gates met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and attended the

inauguration ceremony of the Indian Newborn Action Plan (INAP) by Union Health Minister

Dr. Harsh Vardhan. Bill Gates is the founder of one of the biggest software companies in

the world Microsoft and chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. more >>

PM Modi welcomes Chinese President in Ahmedabad

                   Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the visiting Chinese 

President Xi Jinping and his wife at a hotel here on Wednesday.

                   Prime Minister Modi presented a bouquet of flowers to both the Chinese

President and his wife Peng Liyuan.

The two leaders shook hands with each other and exchanged brief pleasantries.

                   Earlier on his arrival, the Chinese President was received by Gujarat Chief

Minister  Anandiben Patel and her Cabinet colleagues at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

International Airport here.

                   It is expected that both sides will sign three memoranda of understanding. Of

them, two are for relations between Guangdong and Gujarat and Guangzhou and the

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The third MoU is related to cooperation in the

industrial sector.

                  The Chinese President's three-day visit is expected to focus largely on ramping

up bilateral trade and investment, besides addressing the contentious border issue

between the two Asian giants.

                  India expects that the visit will address the 'interests and concerns' of both the

countries and that 'all substantive' issues having bearing on the ties including the boundary

dispute will be discussed.

                  Keen to boost its trade ties with India, the Chinese side has already indicated that

 it will pledge to invest billions of dollars in India's railway, manufacturing and infrastructure

projects during the Chinese President's visit.

                  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India will seek greater engagement with

China, but at the same time, will also look for progress on 'issues of concern' saying their

resolution will transform the atmosphere in the relations.  more >>

PM Modi seeks mother's blessings on 64th birthday

                     Gandhinagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought his mother's blessings at

her home here on his 64th birthday on Wednesday.

                     He reportedly also received calls from his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe,

President Pranab Mukherjee, who wished him on the occasion. Vice President Hamid

Ansari also wished him.

                     Dressed in a half sleeve saffron-coloured kurta and a hand woven scarf; Modi

came to his mother Hira Baa's residence alone in his BMW car without any security.

                     The huge crowd that had gathered outside the residence cheered Prime

Minister Modi, saying: "Happy birthday Narendrabhai."

                     The Prime Minister's mother put both of her hands on Modi's head and blessed

him as he bent down to touch her feet.

                    Gujarati sweets - Churma ke Laddoo, Lapsi and Kansar - were offered by his

mother to the prime minister.

The Prime Minister spent about 25 minutes at his mother's residence.  more >>

Modi meets Malaysian environment minister

 PM Modi meets Malaysian environment minister in Delhi


                    The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Malaysia and the

President of the Malaysian Indian Congress, Datuk Seri G. Palanivel today called on Prime

Minister Narendra Modi.

                    Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the occasion of the meeting to praise the

contribution of the over two million strong Indian community in Malaysia for enriching the

fabric of Malaysia's pluralist society and for contributing to Malaysia's economic

development.

                  Prime Minister Narendra Modi also highlighted the importance of close

cooperation between India and Malaysia as well as other ASEAN countries in advancing

collective regional action for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. He also expressed

his desire for enhancing trade, investment, tourism, educational and cultural ties between

the two countries.

                 During the meeting, Minister Palanivel sought enhanced cooperation in the areas

of conservation of forests, wildlife protection, climate change technology and promotion of

people to people contacts.

                 On behalf of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri G Palanivel extended

invitation to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Malaysia.  more >>