On the eve of US President Donald Trump's India visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that India looks forward to welcoming the US President, who is to commence his "historic programme" from Gujarat.
The US president will be on a two-day visit to India and together with Modi is to participate in a roadshow in Ahmedabad after landing there.
"India looks forward to welcoming @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad," Modi wrote on Twitter.
He was responding to a tweet by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani that said "entire Gujarat speaks in one voice- #NamasteTrump".
On Monday, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi will take part in a 22-km roadshow from the Ahmedabad international airport. Then they will proceed for the 'Namaste Trump' event at the newly built Sardar Patel Stadium in the city's Motera area, where over one lakh people are expected to be present.
The US President will visit Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Monday before heading towards a cricket stadium where he will address over 1,00,000 people.
Sabarmati Ashram was a key base of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. He lived there between 1917 and 1930. The US president will later fly down to Agra to visit Taj Mahal and thereafter fly to Delhi for the official engagements where "major trade deals" are expected to be signed by the two sides.
On the morning of February 25, the US president and first lady Melania Trump will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the 'Rashtrapati Bhavan'. From there, they will go to Raj Ghat to pay homage at the 'samadhi' of Mahatma Gandhi. It will be followed by restricted and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi at Hyderabad House. 'Namaste Trump' will be similar to the landmark 'Howdy, Modi!' event hosted by the Indian-American community in honour of Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Houston in September 2019, said an official. Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for a little less than 36-hour-long trip to India.
Other members of the US president's delegation include Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and Energy Secretary Dan Broulliette.
From Ahmedabad, the US President is to fly to Agra where huge billboards on streets near the city airport and public squares in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal greeting him have come up ahead of his visit.
Trump's convoy route from the airport to the Taj Mahal is about 13 km and along the way thousands of artistes will welcome him with special performances.
On the famous Mall Road, which falls on the route, one hoarding reads 'His Excellency Donald J Trump, President of the United States of America, Heartiest Welcome to the Land of Krishna'. It is accompanied with an image of Trump standing next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump is to reach Agra in the Monday evening.