PM Narendra Modi in France: As it happened on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in the French city of Lille to pay homage to thousands of Indian soldiers killed during World War-I at a memorial.

Paris: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the French city of Lille to pay homage to thousands of Indian soldiers killed during World War-I at a memorial.

Here are the LIVE Updates:

• PM Modi concludes his speech with ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ 

• Permanent seat in United Nations Security Council is India's right: PM Modi

• We want people from all over the world to come to India: PM Modi

• India’s demographic dividend is its strength: PM Modi 

• India is the most youthful nation in the world: PM Modi

• India is the fastest growing economy on all economic parameters; Moody says this, not Modi: PM Modi  

• It mean our message has reached the right people: PM Modi

• I have barely said 'Make In India' thrice since yesterday, but French President's every third sentence was 'Make In India': PM Modi

• France is the first one to raise its voice if injustice is done to India, such is our relationship: PM Modi

•  From my experience I can say that India has no reason to remain poor: PM Modi

From my experience I can say that India has no reason to remain poor: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 11, 2015

•  Our passport colours might have changed, but the colour of our blood is the same: PM Modi

• We are not begging, we are seeking what is our right: PM Modi 

This is the opportunity to give the land of Mahatma Gandhi & Lord Buddha its due. We are not begging, we are seeking what is our right: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 11, 2015

• Indians did not fight because they wanted to expand their territorial boundaries: PM Modi 

• India is a Nation that has always believed in world peace: PM Modi

India is a Nation that has always believed in world peace: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 11, 2015

• India is a country which doesn't sacrifice for its people but also others: PM Modi 

• The world needs to understand India better and change their point of view: PM Modi

• The sacrifice and peacekeeping abilities of Indian soldiers is well-known: PM Modi

• Indians constitute the largest numbers in peacekeeping forces: PM Modi

• The war went on for 4 years; Indians were fighting, but not for themselves: PM Modi 

• In the thousands of years of India's development there is not a semblance of attack: PM Modi

• History is only created by those who know about history: PM Modi

• ​History can be made only by those who know and understand history: PM Modi

• India is known as the land of sacrifice and devotion: PM Modi

• Earlier I wanted to visit France out of curiosity,to see how it is. Today I've come with a dream to take my nation ahead: PM Modi

• Have come here today to take tourists back to India: PM Modi

• Your enthusiasm makes everyone back at home in India very happy: PM Modi

• PM Modi addresses community reception at Carrousel du Louvre.

Last public event in France - also the largest in number - PM @narendramodi addresses Indian community in Paris. pic.twitter.com/GPUAeVCIPI — Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 11, 2015

• PM Modi gifts books to the war memorial.

PM @narendramodi gifts @IndianDiplomacy's publication on India & the Great War at WWI Memorial for Indian soldiers. pic.twitter.com/AossttUs35 — Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 11, 2015

• PM Modi gifts replica of Garhwal WWI Memorial during to Neuve Chapelle Memorial.

PM @ Narendra Modi's gifts replica of Garhwal WWI Memorial during visit to Neuve Chapelle Memorial in France. pic.twitter.com/za1i0n6RUk — Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 11, 2015

•  Indians at Neuve Chapelle Memorial cheer PM Modi. 

PM interacts with people of Indian origin outside World War I Memorial, Neuve-Chapelle, #France pic.twitter.com/pUBk8bwcpp — PIB India (@PIB_India) April 11, 2015

Wherever PM @narendramodi goes, young enthusiasts are always present. Even at Neuve Chapelle Memorial. pic.twitter.com/YIVzy8LhRB — Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 11, 2015

• The Prime Minister pens his thoughts in visitor's book at memorial.

Writing in the visitors book. pic.twitter.com/lEJquRpwaS — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 11, 2015

PM Modi’s message in the visitors' book at Neuve Chappelle Memorial. #ModiinFrance pic.twitter.com/aWeANvXrVi — ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2015

• PM Modi pays homage to Indian soldiers.

Paying homage to the Indian soldiers. pic.twitter.com/isWxwJAMgv — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 11, 2015

Remembering the services of the brave. PM @narendramodi at the Neuve Chapelle Memorial for Indian soldiers. pic.twitter.com/rQsRyLXxOD — Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 11, 2015

• PM Modi heads to WWI memorial, tweets MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin. 

Dull, dreary, rainy day is not a deterrent to paying homage PM @narendramodi heads 2 WWI Memorial for Indian soldiers pic.twitter.com/BO0iqN4ENe — Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 11, 2015

• PM's official Twitter handle shared these images of Indian soldiers involved in WW I.

A French woman pins a flower on an Indian cavalryman during French National Day parade on 14th July 1916. pic.twitter.com/UxSO2VGeqO — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 11, 2015

More about 'The Flying Sikh of Biggin Hill' Lt. Hardit Singh Malik who later served as India's Ambassador to France pic.twitter.com/skGWP0OfwU — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 11, 2015

• In a short while from now PM Modi will pay homage to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War.

In a short while from now PM @narendramodi will pay homage to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 11, 2015

Apart from the visit to the memorial, the Prime Minister also visited the southern French city of Toulouse to see the Airbus facility and discuss ways of further cooperation, including in transfer of technology and investments.

While there, he also visited the French space centre CNES or the National Centre for Space Studies.

On returning to Paris in the evening, PM Modi will attend a reception organized by the Indian community and also call on former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

A visit to a trade fair is also scheduled before he concludes his three-day visit to France and heads for Germany on the second leg of his three-nation nine-day foreign tour.

On Friday, Prime Minister Modi and French President Francois Hollande met at the Elysee Palace here and discussed issues of mutual interest. This was followed by delegation-level talks between India and France and the issue of a joint statement that listed the signing of over 17 agreements, including one for the direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets in fly-away condition, and another for facilitating the early conclusion of techno-commercial talks on the Jaitapur nuclear power plant.

Both sides inked 17 agreements, including in the fields of civil nuclear energy, railways and space, and three Letters of Intent.

Modi also went on a boat ride on the Seine River with Hollande and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius after the talks.

He also addressed a meeting of the UNESCO and met with CEOs in two back-to-back sessions that focused on his pet `Make in India` initiative.

At the UNESCO headquarters, he spoke of his government`s commitment to ensure that every citizen, faith, culture and creed has an equal place in society.

(With Agency Inputs)