Bihar Defeat to Overshadow PM Narendra Modi's UK Visit: British Media

London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fly out on Wednesday for his first visit to Britain. The three-day visit comes in the shadow of "troubles at home" after the BJP's defeat in the Bihar election, the British media said on Tuesday.

PM Modi's packed schedule includes lunch with Queen Elizabeth and a grand reception at Wembley Stadium on Friday, described as the "biggest political rally in the history of the UK".

British prime minister David Cameron, who will also attend the event, told the media that he was "very excited" about PM Modi's visit.

"Even I have not managed to bring 80,000 people together at one place in London, he will on Friday at Wembley. I will be welcoming him with my speech," Mr Cameron was quoted as saying.

PM Modi also said he is looking forward to the visit in an article for 'The Sunday Times'.

"I am looking forward to my visit to the United Kingdom with anticipation and excitement. Britain is a special partner, and ours is no ordinary relationship," he wrote.

The British media noted that just ahead of the high-profile visit, the Bihar debacle was an "embarrassing setback" for Mr Modi.

"Since he swept to power 18 months ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proved to be a charismatic international statesman, impressing leaders from Shinzo Abe to Barack Obama as well as expatriate Indians with his ambition to modernise India," The Financial Times said.

"But his next foreign visit - to the UK this week to meet David Cameron and the Queen and to address a crowd of 60,000 British Indians at Wembley Stadium - will for the first time be overshadowed by deepening troubles at home," it said.

But the newspaper stressed that the UK will be keen to distance itself from any negatives to clinch an estimated package of USD 15-billion trade and investment deals.

'The Independent' newspaper said: "The result means that as he prepares for an enthusiastic welcome in Britain this week - including an unprecedented sell-out event at Wembley Stadium on Friday - Mr Modi will be smarting from the defeat on home soil, which comes as his administration also faces mounting accusations of fomenting intolerance."

In its own analysis titled 'From pariah to rock star world leader', the 'Daily Telegraph' also expressed concerns over how his party was "comfortably defeated" in the Bihar polls, weakening the Indian Prime Minister's domestic stand.

"As he emerged from provincial politician to likely leader of the world's largest democracy, Britain ended the boycott in 2012 in the face of growing business and realpolitik pressures.

"The turnaround has been dramatic. This week he will stay at Mr Cameron's country residence (Chequers), address the two Houses of Parliament, visit Indian-owned businesses and sites of Indian cultural importance," the daily said.

The news reports come against the backdrop of the so-called "Modi Not Welcome to the UK" protest group projecting a hologram with its banner on the House of Parliament on Sunday night. The group led by Awaaz Network is among some of the UK-based organisations planning protests during the visit this week.

Scotland Yard has said that it is in talks with various protest groups to check trouble.