Modi to address 70,000 at Wembley on November 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing an estimated 70,000 people at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London on November 13.

Modi is to pay an official visit to Britain in the second week of November. The Europe India Forum announced on Friday that it would be hosting him at Wembley, at an “Olympic style” event and the “largest reception any foreign head of government has ever received in the UK.”

The reception will be themed ‘Two Great Nations. One Glorious Future.’ It will begin with a cultural show. The PM’s address will be followed by a massive fireworks display, as the visit coincides with the festival of Diwali, their statement went.

According to Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party convener Vijay Chauthaiwale, the event will be attended by MPs from across the political spectrum, business leaders, and  personalities from the world of entertainment, art and culture. The event website www.ukwelcomesmodi.org will go live on Saturday. The organisers have already launched the event’s Twitter handle @ukwelcomesmodi.

Priti Patel, that country’s minister of state for employment, and Prime Minister David Cameron’s ‘Indian Diaspora Champion’ said: The UK government places huge importance on the special relationship with India. Prime Minister Modi's forthcoming visit and the community reception will only serve to strengthen the bond of friendship between our two great nations. I encourage as many community organisations to register their support."

Virendra Sharma, MP and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on India-UK Relations, and Shamsuddin Agha, President of the Indian Muslim Federation, also welcomed the announcement. "The visit will demolish the walls of hatred and extremism. It will work towards the development of all people irrespective of caste, creed or religion and create a pluralistic, multicultural society in India,” Agha said.