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* Nore than 20 deals agreed
* Modi seeking to rebuild after Bihar vote loss
* Protesters call for end to religious persecution (Adds more than 9 billion pounds of commercial deals)
By Kylie MacLellan and Lisa Barrington
LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Britain and India welcomed morethan 9 billion pounds ($13.7 billion) in commercial deals duringa visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but his arrivalwas overshadowed by protests over a perceived rise inintolerance back home.
Modi got a warm welcome by British Prime Minister DavidCameron, who has tried to cultivate closer ties with India tosecure business opportunities in a fast-growing economy at atime when Modi has been prioritising other relationships.
For his part, Modi is seeking to restore his authority onthe world stage after a defeat for his Hindu nationalist partyin populous Bihar state on Sunday. He appealed to business toinvest in a more transparent India in a speech at the Guildhall,a historic building in the heart of London's financial district.
While Cameron said he wanted to support Modi in his effortsto transform India with improved infrastructure, the Indianleader signalled he wanted Britain to stay in the EuropeanUnion, saying the country was India's gateway to Europe.
"We want to become your number one partner for supportingthe finance needed for this ambitious plan, making London theworld's centre for offshore rupee trading," Cameron told himduring a news conference, adding that plans were in place toissue more than 1 billion pounds in bonds.
He later said in a statement: "During this visit, Britishand Indian companies are announcing new collaborations, togetherworth more than £9 billion pounds."
The British government listed more than 20 deals andcollaborations, including a 1.3 billion-pound ($1.98 billion)investment by Vodafone.
The two prime ministers also welcomed a package to promoteclean energy worth 3.2 billion pounds of commercial agreements,joint research programmes and initiatives to share technical,scientific, and financial and policy expertise.
Before the visit, diplomats said the Indian leader was keento buy 20 more BAE Systems Hawk trainer aircraft to bemade in Bengaluru.
Cameron has visited India three times since taking office in2010 to try to climb up the diplomatic pecking order, but Modiis the first Indian head of government to pay an official visitto Britain, the country's former colonial ruler, in almost adecade.
His visit comes at a time when a debate is raging in Indiaover accusations that Modi is failing to rein in Hindu zealotstrying to impose their values on all Indians.
POMP AND PROTESTS
As Modi and Cameron shook hands for the cameras outsideNumber 10 Downing Street, a crowd of about 200 protesters couldbe heard shouting anti-Modi slogans nearby.
"Our main concern is that minorities are not safe in India,"said Sikh protester Kuldip Singh.
The demonstrators held up banners with messages such as"Modi you are killing Indian democracy" and "Stop religiouspersecution in India".
Asked about these concerns at his joint news conference withCameron, Modi said India was a vibrant democracy in whichindividual rights were guaranteed by the constitution.
"There is something that is deeply entrenched in ourculture, in our traditions, which is that of not acceptinganything that has to do with intolerance," he said, adding thatviolent incidents would not be tolerated.
Critics have accused Modi of remaining silent aboutincidents such as the recent deaths of four people attacked byHindus enraged at reports of cows being slaughtered, smuggled orconsumed, and the separate shootings of two prominent atheists.
Before his arrival in Britain, more than 200 writers,including Salman Rushdie and Ian McEwan, signed an open letterto Cameron urging him to raise concerns about freedom ofexpression in India during his talks with Modi.
About 45 British members of parliament, including oppositionLabour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, signed a motion to debateIndia's human rights record.
The British government, however, rolled out the red carpetfor Modi, who was greeted in the grand courtyard of the Treasuryby a guard of honour wearing ceremonial bearskin headgear.
Modi was due to have lunch with Queen Elizabeth on Friday,before the emotional high point of his visit, a mass rally atWembley Stadium where Modi will address about 60,000 supportersfrom India's 1.5 million-strong diaspora in Britain. ($1 = 0.6572 pounds) (Additional reporting by Kate Holton and William James,;Writing by Estelle Shirbon,; Editing by Elizabeth Piper, LarryKing)