London, Nov. 12 (The Telegraph): Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced protest demonstrations and tougher questions on intolerance on Day One of his visit to the UK.

The short-pitched stuff came right from the word go at his joint media conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The conference took place in the grand setting of the Locarno Room in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office after Modi had inspected a guard of honour next door in the circular courtyard of the Treasury, known as the Drum.

Then the two Prime Ministers walked through to the Foreign Office, where they delivered their opening statements, Cameron in English, Modi in Hindi. Occasionally, Cameron would nod in agreement. As he turned, the earpiece revealed he was receiving simultaneous translation.

Then the questions flew.

First the BBC: "Prime Minister Cameron, you have visited India three times since you came to power: why has it taken so long to get a return visit?"

For Modi: "India is becoming an increasingly intolerant place. Why?"

Cameron: "India is not only the first major country I visited as Prime Minister, India is the first major country I visited as leader of the Opposition. I have been wanting to see a strengthening of this relationship not just for the last five years but for the last 10 years. And we have made some important progress. The figures on investment are very striking. India invests more into the UK than the whole of the EU combined. And in terms of G20 countries, Britain is the biggest investor - bigger than America, bigger than France, bigger than Germany - into India. But where we agree is we should not rest on our laurels. We should try and raise ourselves."

Modi pointed out that since he had taken over, "11 ministers had come from India to Britain and 11 ministers had gone to India". He had also had two extended meetings with Cameron.

His response on "the other matter" was that "India is the land of Buddha, India is the land of Gandhi" (he paid homage to Gandhi's statue in Parliament Square shortly afterwards before going to address parliamentarians in English). In a country of 1.25 billion, whether they were one, two or three incidents (" ghatna"), they were treated with the same seriousness and gravity.

"We do not tolerate these incidents under any circumstances," said Modi, speaking possibly not only to the journalists but to India and the world beyond. "The law can and will be applied. India is a vibrant democracy where everyone is protected. This is a mission to which I am committed."

Before Modi landed in London, over 200 authors, including Salman Rushdie and Ian McEwan, had issued an open letter to Cameron, expressing extreme concern about "the rising climate of fear, growing intolerance and violence towards critical voices". The authors appealed to Cameron to "engage with Modi both publicly and privately on this crucial issue".

At the media conference, The Guardian, the newspaper in which letters of more than 120 academics criticising Modi appeared today, had a question with several parts: "Prime Minister Cameron, how comfortable do you feel welcoming Prime Minister Modi to this country, given in the first two years of your premiership, he was not permitted to visit this country because of his record as chief minister of Gujarat?"

The question continued: "Prime Minister Modi, can I ask you in the next two years, the United Kingdom will be having a referendum on whether to remain in or leave the European Union. Do you see a future for the United Kingdom outside the European Union? And also, Prime Minister Modi, can I ask you tomorrow night, you will obviously have a rapturous reception at Wembley Stadium but there are a number of protesters out today. I am wondering what you would say to them given your record as chief minister in the state of Gujarat that you do not deserve the respect that would normally be accorded to the leader of the world's largest democracy."

Cameron responded: "There are lots of questions - I will try and answer all of them. I am pleased to welcome Prime Minister Modi. He comes with an enormous mandate from the people of India who made him Prime Minister with a record and historic majority. As for what happened in the past there were legal proceedings, there were also, as my colleague Priti Patel said earlier today, representations from the British government at the time. We are now discussing the future partnership between Britain and India. Both of us are backed by our countries... to strengthen the partnership that we have."

Modi threw in an English phrase - he wanted to "keep the record straight".

In Hindi, he said: "I came here in 2003 and was welcomed with great respect. The UK has never stopped me from coming. It is a different matter that because of circumstances I was not able to come again. Yours is a wrong perception which you should correct."

Technically, he was right in asserting he had never faced a visa ban.

As for the EU "in-out" referendum, Modi avoided getting involved in domestic British politics: "The citizens of Britain are wise enough. There is no need for me to give them tips. But as far as the European Union is concerned, if India has a partner and friend it is Britain."

Perhaps taking note of the criticism back home that he wants to bury the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru and cannot resist the urge to take swipes at Manmohan Singh abroad, Modi mentioned both in a positive manner. The change of tone also came close on the heels of the Bihar poll outcome that has made the Opposition sharpen knives ahead of the winter session of the Indian Parliament beginning later this month.

"I will only say that many freedom fighters of India found their calling in the institutions of Britain. And many makers of modern India, including several of my distinguished predecessors, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Dr Manmohan Singh, passed through their doors," Modi told MPs in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster.

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