Ahmedabad: In a bid to attract foreign investment in Gujarat and spruce the state's image after the post- Godhra communal riots, Chief Minister Narendra Modi will begin his six-day visit to London, Zurich and Geneva on August 17.

Modi told reporters on August 14 that he would be meeting top Non-Resident Indian (NRI) businessmen and industrialists in for their participation in Gujarat and would invite them for "Global Investors Meet" that coincides with the Navratri festival celebrations beginning September 25.

After his four-day stay in London, Modi will reach Zurich on August 21 to meet industrialists and proceed for Geneva the next day to bring the "asthi kalash" (urns containing the ashes) of veteran freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Verma and his wife.

Modi said the Veeranjali Yatra of these ashes has also been organised in Mumbai on August 24, after his return and the yatra will continue in 17 districts of Gujarat from August 25 to enable people pay their tributes to the leader.

A native of Mandvi in Kutch district, Verma breathed his last in Geneva in 1930 and since then his ashes have been preserved in a museum there.

The "kalash" is likely to reach Mandvi, the hometown of Verma, on September 4.

"While breathing his last, the freedom fighter's desire was that his ashes be taken to India only after the country achieves Independence," Modi said, adding "Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi and Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi will be present when "asthi kalash" is brought to Mumbai.

PTI