Donald Trump, Melania Reach Motera Stadium, Greeted By Amit Shah

US President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump on Monday arrived at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. Guests were welcomed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Vijay Rupnai and Governor Acharya Devvrat. Trump visited the stadium after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram, which was home to Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1930 during India's freedom struggle.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached the Ashram a few minutes earlier, showed Trump and the US First Lady ‘Hriday Kunj’, a room inside the Ashram where Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba lived. Modi explained the importance of this place in India’s freedom struggle.

During the visit, Trump and Melania also tried their hands on the khadi spinning wheel, also knwon as charkha.  Melania also helped Trump in weaving khadi on charkha.

Gujarat: US President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump arrive at Motera Stadium, in Ahmedabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Vijay Rupnai and Governor Acharya Devvrat also present. #TrumpInIndia pic.twitter.com/AO2pyRqjFo

— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2020

Before leaving, Trump wrote a message in the visitors’ book of the Ashram.

“To my great friend Prime Minister Modi - Thank you for this wonderful visit,” wrote Trump and signed the message.  It was also signed by Melania.

Donald Trump, on board the special Air Force One aircraft along with his delegation reached Ahmedabad at 11.37 am for the first leg of his India visit. Trump is accompanied by First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his administration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was at the Sardar Valabbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to welcome the US President.

In Ahmedabad, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a mammoth crowd of more than 1,00,000 people at an event titled 'Namaste Trump' at the Motera Stadium. "Namaste, Trump" will be on the lines of the "Howdy, Modi!" event organised for PM Modi during last year's US visit.

The event will "showcase India's rich and diverse culture... few parallels in India or elsewhere", foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.

(With PTI Inputs)