Modi also said that Gujarat is working on a Rama trail from Gujarat to Sri Lanka and proposed a similar Buddha trail from Sri Lanka to Gujarat. Nirj Deva, member of the European Parliament and politician of Britain's Conservative Party, said he will talk to Sri Lankan President on the issue. The Chief Minister also said Gujarat and Russia enjoy very old relations and that the Astrakhan province, which had sent a delegation to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013, is a sister state to Gujarat. Among those, with whom Modi interacted yesterday, were - Joe Leinen, German politician and member of the European Parliament who heads the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in the Parliament; Nirj Deva; Anne Marie Lizin, honorary president of the Belgian Senate; Vladislav Yurchik, leader of Communist Party of Russia and Deputy of the Russian Parliament 'Duma' and Valery Sargienko, member of Siberia's Legislative Assembly and leader of the Communist Party. Modi had a luncheon meeting with envoys and representatives of several European Union member countries in Delhi on January 7 that was hosted by German Ambassador Michael Steiner, ending their boycott of the chief minister since the 2002 post-Godhra riots. Yesterday's interaction was also attended by spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who said Gujarat has progressed immensely and there was peace and progress under Modi's leadership.
