ME News Bureau: Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, with his wife Sara, formally paid respect to Mahatma Gandhi soon after they began their mega roadshow in the city.
Netanyahu was given a moving welcome when he arrival at the Ahmedabad airport. He was received by Modi and top state officials after which they advanced to a roadshow toward the Sabarmati Ashram, with crowds swamping both sides of the road.
As the convoy with the two national leaders advanced, crowds fluttered Indian and Israeli flags. More than 50 stages were set up along the route of the convoy for cultural shows and recitals.
At the Sabarmati Ashram, Modi took his Israeli guests on a circuit of the ashram where Mahatma Gandhi had lived.
Netanyahu and his wife Sara paid respect to the 'Father of the Nation' and described their visit to the ashram as ''very inspiring''.
PM Modi also gave a lesson on kite playing to Netanyahu and his wife, at the ashram premises.
The two global leaders are scheduled to attend a number of events later in the day.
The roadshow extending to about 14 km was profoundly guarded by different categories of security forces, such as Chetak commandos, Quick Response Teams, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and the Gujarat Police. Israeli snipers also were also omnipresent at the event.
Additionally, special squads were reportedly positioned at tall buildings en route and also on the Sabarmati river in speedboats while the dignitaries visited the Ashram.
As a precautionary measure, several roads along the course were closed by the authorities to ensure the smooth travel of the leaders and their convoy.
The two leaders later inaugurated the iCreate Center at Deo Dholera Village in Ahmedabad, before visiting a startup exhibition and interacting with startup CEOs.
The PMs are scheduled to dedicate a mobile water desalination van to Suigam Taluka, in the Banaskantha district, through a video link.
Subsequently, the leaders will visit the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Vadrad in Banaskantha district and also launch the Centre of Excellence for Date Palms in Kukama.
