Tens of thousands pack Wembley Stadium for rally to welcome Indian Prime Minister Modi

Huge crowds: Narendra Modi addresses his supporters
AFP/Getty Images
Hannah Al-Othman14 November 2015

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi received a rock-star reception as tens of thousands of his supporters flocked to Wembley stadium for a huge rally.

Mr Modi addressed 60,000 fans who travelled from across the country to see him on Friday evening, during the first visit to the UK by an Indian prime minister for a decade.

Prime Minister David Cameron walked onto the stage with Mr Modi to huge cheers from the gathered crowd.

Schoolchildren lined the stage, a the national anthems of the UK and India were sung before the two leaders addressed the audience.

Rally: David Cameron and wife Samantha meet performers in a backstage area
REUTERS/Justin Tallis/Pool

Describing the rally as a "truly historic moment", Cameron said: "Prime minister Modi, you can see what I see everyday - British Indians putting the great into Great Britain.

"It won't be long before there's a British Indian prime minister in Downing Street.

"Team India, Team UK - together we are a winning combination."

Supporters: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the welcome rally in his honour at Wembley Stadium
AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images

Mr Modi received a standing ovation as he called out, "Good evening Wembley!"

He said: "This is a historic day. Two great nations, two vibrant democracies - we are celebrating this very special relationship in this very special venue.

"It's been 12 years since I had been here. In that time a lot of water has gone down the Thames.

"As I stand here my countrymen have handed me a new responsibility. In order to fulfil this new responsibility I'm investing all my efforts.

"I would like to assure you that the dreams you have dreamt - and the dreams every Indian has dreamt - India is capable of fulfilling these dreams.

"There is no reason for India to remain a poor country."

Biggest display: Fireworks light up the sky during the rally
AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images

Supporters waved Indian flags and chanted "Modi" throughout the extravaganza, which included performances from Indian and British performers and a fireworks display that organisers claimed to be the UK's biggest.

Manoj Ladwa, a founding member of the Europe India Forum, which organised the event, said demand for tickets meant they could have filled another Wembley Stadium.

He said: "We started off looking at other venues that were 10,000, 15,000, but we realised the immense demand and the popularity of Prime Minister Modi.

"The only stadium that could accommodate Prime Minister Modi at this particular time is Wembley Stadium.

"We've got 60,000 people but we had at least 100,000 more people wanting to register."

Mr Modi's visit to Britain has seen the unveiling of £9 billion of commercial deals between the two countries.

However, he has faced protests over his record as chief minister of Gujarat - including over riots in 2002 when more than a thousand Muslims were said to have died.

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