Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu have called their visit to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad as an 'inspiring visit'. "An inspiring visit to the heart of one of humanity's great prophets of inspiration—Mahatma Gandhi," said Netanyahu and his wife in a message at the Sabarmati Ashram.
The message written by Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara after their visit to Sabarmati Ashram
At the ashram they were greeted with Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan "Vaishanavjan toh ene re kahiye...". At the ashram, Modi played the role of the guide and showed various parts of the ashram to Netanyahu and Sara. Netanyahu even tried his hands at the charkha. Modi and Netanyahu also flew a kite at the Sabarmati Ashram.
Earlier, Netanyahu and wife Sara, who had arrived at the Sardar Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad for a day-long visit to Gujarat, were received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi, Netanyahu and Sara were taken to the Sabarmati Ashram from the airport in a bullet proof car. Along the eight-kilometer long route, a road show with artists presenting various forms of folk dances, mainly from Gujarat, was arranged. A Jewish dance, too, was presented.
It was thought that the diginitaries would be travelling in an open jeep, as PM Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and his wife had done last year. However, this time around, the leaders chose covered bullet proof vehicle due to security reasons.
On the route to the ashram there was heavy police bandobast. The security also included Israeli snipers and chetak commandos, quick response teams and bomb disposal squads.
Sabarmati Ashram was one of the residences of Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who lived here for about twelve years.
Later in the day, they will visit “I-Create” centre at Bavla, near Ahmedabad. Thereafter, they will fly to North-Gujarat for a function at a horticulture centre.
(With inputs from agencies)
