Hordes of fans and some protesters greeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he visited Vancouver Thursday.
The controversial leader is in B.C. for the final leg of his three-day visit.
It’s the first time in more than four decades an Indian prime minister has visited Canada.
Modi was met at the Vancouver airport by Canadian dignitaries, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Industry Minister James Moore, before being rushed away in an RCMP-protected motorcade.
The first stop on his tour was the Gurdwara Khalsa Diwan Sikh temple in Vancouver, where he spoke to worshippers.
Premier Christy Clark, Justice Minister Suzanne Anton and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson were in attendance, seated on the floor as Modi addressed the packed temple.
Modi and Harper were presented with yellow scarves and ceremonial kirpans as the crowd clapped.
The Indian leader was expected to stop at the Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple in Surrey at 5 p.m. before meeting Harper for a state dinner at the Pinnacle Vancouver Harbourfront Hotel.
Modi was given a similar rock star greeting in Toronto Wednesday, with thousands of people cheering the leader’s name as he spoke in Hindi at a packed venue.
Though most of the fans were friendly, there was a small contingent of protesters criticizing his past suspected human rights abuses against Muslims.
Earlier in Ottawa, he and Stephen Harper signed a multi-million dollar trade deal between the two countries. A Saskatchewan company will provide 3,000 tonnes of uranium to fuel India's power reactors.
