Going to India: Trump set to open world's biggest cricket stadium

[snoop1130]

Going to India: Trump set to open world's biggest cricket stadium

By Sumit Khanna

 

A man applies finishing touches to paintings of U.S. President Donald Trump and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a wall as part of a beautification along a route that Trump and Modi will be taking during Trump's upcoming visit, in Ahmedabad, India, February 17, 2020. REUTERS/Amit Dave

 

AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will inaugurate the world’s largest cricket stadium when he arrives in Ahmedabad, the home base of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday at the start of a two-day visit aimed at smoothing ties strained by trade disputes.

 

Making his first official trip to the world’s largest democracy, Trump is also expected to visit the humble abode of India’s independence hero Mahatma Gandhi in Ahmedabad.

 

The leaders of China, Japan and Israel have all visited Ahmedabad since Modi became prime minister. It is the biggest city in Gujarat, the western state where Modi made his mark as chief minister before his Hindu nationalist party swept to power in 2014.

 

If his Indian hosts can help it, Trump probably won’t see a slum as they’ve ordered for a 400-metre wall to be built along his route to block the view of where poor people live.

 

Authorities in Ahmedabad expect to spend around 800 million to 850 million Indian rupees (9.14 million pounds) on preparations for the visit by the American president that is likely to last around three hours, two government officials with direct knowledge of the plans told Reuters.

 

The sum is equivalent to equivalent to about 1.5% of the annual budget for the home ministry in Gujarat.

 

Security-related costs, with more than 12,000 police officers expected to be deployed, will account for almost half the expense, said the officials, who declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak publicly about the visit.

 

Ahmedabad municipal commissioner Vijay Nehra, the city’s top civic official, told Reuters that authorities had already spent around 300 million rupees ($4.2 million) on widening roads and improving infrastructure around the new cricket stadium.

 

With capacity for 110,000 spectators, the Motera Stadium will dislodge the Melbourne Cricket Ground as the world’s largest cricket stadium.

 

“Eighteen roads of about 20 kilometres (12 miles) in length from Ahmedabad Airport to Motera Stadium have been widened or re-laid,” Nehra said, adding that the improvements had been planned before Trump’s visit was confirmed.

 

A further 60 million Indian rupees ($840,000) will go on “beautification” of the city, said Nehra, including erecting the wall to spare Trump’s view.

 

Ashok Brahmbhatt, secretary of Gujarat Cricket Association, which owns the Motera Stadium set to be opened by Trump, said it would also spend tens of millions of rupees during the event.

 

Nehra tweeted on Sunday that more than 100,000 participants had registered so far to greet Trump as he heads from the airport to the city centre. Trump said last week Modi had promised “millions and millions” of people would line his route.

 

Trump may also visit the famous Taj Mahal monument in the city of Agra, and all leave for police officers in that city has been cancelled, according to a document seen by Reuters.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-18

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[Puchaiyank]

I can hardly stand it!  Trump keeps being treated as the real US President by world leaders...????

[candide]

Let's hope he will not congratulate them for building the largest baseball stadium....

[daoyai]

I am worried about security,  I hope they can protect him in such a place.

[bendejo]

You just know that once he's in front of a microphone he's going to gaff.

Something like the great job the Brits did in building the Taj Mahal, "I'm hearing good things about Mahatma Ghandi and his wife Indira," "see? none of you people look like Pocohontas" etc.

 

BTW, I think he is unaware that the Taj is a mausoleum.

 

Edited February 18, 2020 by bendejo

[deeks]

The most loved PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and it doesnt matter what the haters say he IS -------------wait for it ----THE------------------------- PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...................................Trump 2020 woo hoo.

[MaxYakov]

9 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

I can hardly stand it!  Trump keeps being treated as the real US President by world leaders...????

Yes! He's pretty unreal isn't he? ????

 

 

 

Edited February 18, 2020 by MaxYakov

[legend49]

I doubt he can spell the word cricket let alone explain what sport it is.

[Emdog]

"If his Indian hosts can help it, Trump probably won’t see a slum as they’ve ordered for a 400-metre wall to be built along his route to block the view of where poor people live."

And the Muslims will pay for it!

Wonder if Trmp will compliment great Hindu culture that built the Taj Mahal....

Maybe Don will bring some of those unbelievable Trump steaks as a gift?

[IAMHERE]

28 minutes ago, Emdog said:

"If his Indian hosts can help it, Trump probably won’t see a slum as they’ve ordered for a 400-metre wall to be built along his route to block the view of where poor people live."

And the Muslims will pay for it!

Wonder if Trmp will compliment great Hindu culture that built the Taj Mahal....

Maybe Don will bring some of those unbelievable Trump steaks as a gift?

Is this an example of fake news ?   Otherwise it is propaganda that I don't believe.

[SiSePuede419]

As Hasan Minhaj would say, he's trying to lock up the (crazy, ignorant) "Uncle" vote. ????

[Tug]

Where’s he gonna get a cheese burger?and poor Gandhi’s ghost to have that abomination in his home sad

[Jingthing]

8 hours ago, deeks said:

The most loved PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and it doesnt matter what the haters say he IS -------------wait for it ----THE------------------------- PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...................................Trump 2020 woo hoo.

Most divisive actually. He acts as if he is a dictator monarch and he rules only for his own personal benefit and to stoke up his limited loyalist base. He treats any Americans that are not in his base as enemies. 

[Jingthing]

3 hours ago, legend49 said:

I doubt he can spell the word cricket let alone explain what sport it is.

Well I can relate to that. 

[Moonlover]

4 hours ago, legend49 said:

I doubt he can spell the word cricket let alone explain what sport it is.

An American president, any American president opening a cricket stadium?

 

It's just not cricket what!

[natway09]

The goose would not even know what a "leg break" was

[puck2]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Most divisive actually. He acts as if he is a dictator monarch and he rules only for his own personal benefit and to stoke up his limited loyalist base. He treats any Americans that are not in his base as enemies. 

Maybe ... he intends to build a Trump-Tower (TT) in India.

[cycolista]

10 hours ago, deeks said:

The most loved PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and it doesnt matter what the haters say he IS -------------wait for it ----THE------------------------- PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...................................Trump 2020 woo hoo.

What’s it like living in a cult?

[dabhand]

Hope his security detail are not looking to head to the nearest bar for a few bevvies to celebrate this auspicious event. That might be a bit tricky in a state that bans the open sale of such libations.

 

Traveled to Ahmedabad many times over the last 20 years for work and if ever a place lives up the the recent Trump comment of S*** Holes this is it. It has improved over the past few years but that is definitely no recommendation for a visit.

 

Hopefully Modi wil not mention the huge 'Statue of Unity' that was built recently in Gujarat, at a totally indecent cost. It might give Trump ideas, as with the military parade in France..........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Unity

[JHolmesJr]

18 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

I can hardly stand it!  Trump keeps being treated as the real US President by world leaders...????

 

They have seen the writing on the wall....4 more years....hence the let's play ball mantra.

Plus they have se how those who try to destroy him end up destroying, perhaps even

indicting, themselves.

[Jingthing]

11 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

They have seen the writing on the wall....4 more years....hence the let's play ball mantra.

Plus they have se how those who try to destroy him end up destroying, perhaps even

indicting, themselves.

You read an awful lot into a visit to a cricket stadium. The US and India are natural modern allies regardless of who the current leaders are. At this time both the Indian and U.S. have a lot of negative things in common but that won't prevent a President Klobuchar, Winfrey, Randy Rainbow, or whoever from continuing this mutually beneficial national friendship. 

Edited February 19, 2020 by Jingthing

[JHolmesJr]

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You read an awful lot into a visit to a cricket stadium. The US and India are natural modern allies regardless of who the current leaders are. At this time both the Indian and U.S. have a lot of negative things in common but that won't prevent a President Klobuchar, Winfrey, Randy Rainbow, or whoever from continuing this mutually beneficial national friendship. 

 

Trump actually has Modi's nuts in a vice.....hence all the fawning....not that you would have read that.

[simple1]

37 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

Trump actually has Modi's nuts in a vice.....hence all the fawning....not that you would have read that.

Please explain.

[JHolmesJr]

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

Please explain.

https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/trump-visa-moves-threaten-us-india-relations

[Sujo]

45 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/trump-visa-moves-threaten-us-india-relations

Is there anything and anyone doesnt threaten. Yet he never gains anything.

 

What did he gain witholding ukraine funds. Surely he would not release the funds without getting what he wanted by refusing.

 

Oh, he doesnt threaten rocketman, duterte, putin, netanyahu. All fine upstanding men.

[metisdead]

Some off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

[observer90210]

This plainly shows how smart Trump is....like him or not....he's not imposing baseball or NFL !!!.......he's participating in the national sport madness of the area....and wisely....as India is one of the fastest booming economies in the World and all set to be a superpower within the next decades....weather the haters or the Sad Sack's like it or not ????.....Smart move Mr Trump, great for business deals to come.

[Nyezhov]

10 hours ago, legend49 said:

I doubt he can spell the word cricket let alone explain what sport it is.

Well I cant either, it looks like baseball with silly bats and hats

[Nyezhov]

5 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

This plainly shows how smart Trump is....like him or not....he's not imposing baseball or NFL !!!.......he's participating in the national sport madness of the area....and wisely....as India is one of the fastest booming economies in the World and all set to be a superpower within the next decades....weather the haters or the Sad Sack's like it or not ????.....Smart move Mr Trump, great for business deals to come.

Not even talking about the political effect of the visit on the extemely wealthy Indian-American community.

[Eric Loh]

Trump doing this trip because of his obsessive jealousy of Obama who visited India twice while he was POTUS and was re-invited by Modi after Obama left office.