New Delhi: American President Donald Trump says he is excited over his coming two-day visit to India from February 24 alongwith wife Melanie Trump and looking forward to the grand welcome planned for him at the newly-constructed Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad though ruled out inking of a trade deal.
Talking to media at Andrews Air Base, Trump said that he likes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a lot and added that seven million people will be there to welcome them between the airport and the event location. Trump said that the event is being planned in the world’s largest stadium and it’s going to be very exciting and everyone will enjoy it.
Suggesting that a major bilateral trade deal between the US and India might not get signed during his upcoming India visit, Trump said that he is saving the major trade deal with India for later as he is not aware whether it will be done before US presidential elections due in November later this year.
According to indications, US and India instead may sign a “trade package” during Trump’s visit and that Robert Lighthizer, US Trade Representative, the person-in-charge of trade negotiations with India might not accompany Donald Trump to India but officials have not ruled it out altogether. Never to mince his words, Trump also made his dissatisfaction apparent over US-India bilateral trade ties saying that the US has not been “treated very well” by India but added that he likes PM Modi a lot and is looking forward to his India visit.
Trump’s programme at Motera Stadium is being described as India version of Howdy Modi event organised in Houston for Prime Minister Modi.
It is the world’s largest cricket arena overtaking Melbourne’s MCG. A 22-km long grand roadshow is also being planned from Ahmedabad Airport to the Motera Stadium via Mahatma Gandhi’s famous Sabarmati Ashram.
