Narendra Modi in US DAY 2: May the force be with you, PM Narendra Modi tells youth at Global Citizen Festival in New York

Using the unusual platform of a rock concert, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked the "can do" attitude of youth to change India and the world while addressing a thousands-strong crowd which gathered for the third annual Global Citizen Festival in Central Park in New York.

After a seven-minute speech in English, Modi also read out a Sanskrit scripture calling for "peace in the world" and greeted the largely American crowd with a "Namaste" amid cheers and claps.

Amid performances by various singers, Modi was introduced to the crowd by actor Hugh Jackman as someone who started off as a "tea salesman" and went on to become the chief minister of Gujarat, and then the prime minister of India with a huge mandate. Read more

Also Read: Narendra Modi pitches for UN reforms in meeting with Ban Ki-moon

Watch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at United Nations General Assembly

Narendra Modi said on Saturday that he wants to hold bilateral talks with neighboring Pakistan "without a shadow of terrorism".

"I want to hold bilateral talks to improve friendship and cooperation in all seriousness and in an atmosphere of peace, without a shadow of terrorism," Modi told the United Nations General Assembly in his first address to the world body. "But this is also the duty of Pakistan to come forward and create an appropriate atmosphere and with all seriousness come forward for a bilateral dialogue," he said.

20:40 IST Saturday, 27 September 2014

PM says that UN peacekeeping bodies should be strengthened and it should be ensured that all countries abide by some common rules and parameters. 

We have to give full strength to UN Peacekeeping: PM @narendramodi at @UN

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2014

Modi says that all countries need work together, so that peace can be ensured. PM speaks about certain fundamental issues like sanitation, electricity etc which are still eluding poor people. PM says high growth is not the only panacea for development. He stresses on sustainable growth. 

Let us fulfill promise to reform the UN Security Council by 2015 - PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/kT3aGeRbpH

— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2014

When we craft agreements on international trade we should accommodate each other's concerns & interests. -PM @narendramodi .

— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2014

Modi highlighted the importance of yoga on the world stage. He also put focus on the fact that UN will be 70 years next year. He appealed that this is the right time to inter-connect young minds across the country. He also appealed for a reform in the UN Security Council.

The PM concluded his speech with 'Namaste.'

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2014

PM's speech ends. He gets a standing ovation from dignitaries. 

20:20 IST Saturday, 27 September 2014

Prime Minister is now speaking in the UN General Assembly. Modi says that India is going through a rapid transformation in its society. PM says that every country has its unique philosophy which guides the country forward. PM digs deep into the cultural richness of the country.

20:00 IST Saturday, 27 September 2014

PM says India is vowed to the culture of multilateralism. He pays rich tribute to the founding principles of the UN. From 51 to 190 country, UN has gradually increased its spread. PM recollects how India has played a key role in UN. 

PM says that wars of small intensity are continuing in various countries. He says that some countries are still giving tacit support to terrorists. Without naming Pakistan, he slams the theory of "good terrorism and bad terrorism". He says that all the countries need to come together in the war against terrorism. According to Modi some countries underestimated the threat of terrorism earlier but are now understanding the true implication of the menace. PM says that today's world is inter-dependent, but inter unity hasn't increased. 

Terrorism is appearing in new forms & and no nation is free from it: PM @narendramodi at the @UN

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2014

Why is it that despite having a wonderful platform like UN we have had to have the various G platforms: PM @narendramodi at @UN

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2014

Giving examples of Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and other nations, Prime Minister @narendramodi is talking about the importance of democracy.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2014

PM says India ready to speak with Pakistan but puts onus on them to create suitable atmosphere. Modi says emphasis should be to provide relief to all the flood-affected victims.

Meeting H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India

— UN Secretary-General (@secgen) September 27, 2014

Prime Minister @narendramodi and External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj have arrived at the venue. The address will begin shortly.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters. Modi referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's remarks on Kashmir in the meeting with the UN Secretary- General. Modi also raised the issue of combating terrorism in his interaction with the UN chief. Modi implied that the UN was not the appropriate forum to raise the Kashmir issue as it was a bilateral matter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is about to address UN General Assembly shortly. Watch it live here. 

There is a lot of aniticipation from Narendra Modi's US visit as Modi has clearly expressed his intent on improving India-US ties. Last year, the Devyani Khobragade issue had severed India-US ties after a diplomatic row. 

Meanwhile, Twitter is buzzing with Modi's visit to US. Check the graph below:

Also, PMO's official handle has been tweeting updates from Modi's choc-a-bloc itinerary. 

The Indian Ambassador to USA and other officials are with the Prime Minister at the 9/11 Memorial.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2014

Narendra Modi just paid his tribute to all the victims of 9/11. 

PM paying homage at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. pic.twitter.com/aQie1ch3Sm

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 201

PM @narendramodi is inside the 9/11 Museum in New York City.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2014

PM Shri @narendramodi inside 9/11 Museum in New York. pic.twitter.com/uCsDA7XtZp

— MIB India (@MIB_India) September 27, 2014

Below is Modi's plan for today:

Meeting with former New York City’s mayor Michael Bloomberg. Pay homage to 9/11 memorial in New York.

Address the 69th session of United Nations general assembly in New York.

Speech at Global Citizen’s Festival at Central Park in New York. Meeting with “distinguished” people of Indian origin.

Check out all tweets below:

#NarendraModi Tweets

Narendra Modi's visit to the memorial of the 2001 terror attack  is seen as a significant gesture of support by India to the war on terror. The 9/11 Memorial was inaugurated by President Barack Obama earlier this year in May. Followed by the visit to the memorial, Modi visited the museum that displays artifacts associated with the events of 9/11, while presenting stories of loss and recovery.

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum commemorates the September 11 attacks which killed 2,977 people, including over 40 Indians, and the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, which killed six. Names of nine Indian victims are inscribed on the panelsof the 9/11 memorial -- Ganesh K Ladkat, Anil Shivhari Umarkar, Sushil S Solanki, Alok Kumar Mehta, Shekhar Kumar, Alok Agarwal, Jayesh Shantilal Shah, Yudhvir S Jain and Hashmukh C Parmar.

The memorial is located at the World Trade Center site, on the former location of the Twin Towers, which were destroyed during the attacks. The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation was renamed the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center in 2007. A sombre looking Narendra Modi placed yellow rose buds on the memorial at 'ground zero' and folded his hands. The Prime Minister was accompanied by India's Ambassador to the US S Jaishankar and other officials.

Now all eyes are on Narendra Modi's speech in the UN General Assembly. It will be interesting to see how Modi counters the onslaught launched by Nawaz Sharif on Friday against India in UN. 

With Agency Inputs