PM Modi hails UAE as ‘partner in progress’ at Indian diaspora event

PM Modi hails UAE as ‘partner in progress’ at Indian diaspora event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed India and UAE as “partners in progress”, expressing hope that the partnership becomes stronger with time.

Addressing the Indian community in Abu Dhabi at the Ahlan Modi event, Modi said, “India and UAE are partners in progress. Our relationship is of talent, innovation and culture.” He added that the country is proud of every Indian living in the UAE.

Greeted by chants of ‘Modi, Modi’ from thousands of attendees at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, the PM said, “You have scripted a history by coming in such large numbers here. You may have come from different parts of UAE and from different states of India, but everyone’s hearts are connected. This is the time to hail friendship between India and the UAE. In this historic stadium, every heartbeat echoes the same sentiment- Long live Bharat-UAE friendship.”

On his seventh visit to the UAE in the past decade, Modi recalled his first visit in 2015 and also said he was fortunate to have been bestowed with the prestigious Order of Zayed, the highest civilian award of the UAE.

The prime minister said UAE is now India’s third largest trade partner and seventh largest investor. “Both countries are collaborating on ease of living and ease of doing business,” he added.

Modi went on to say that India is witnessing robust economic growth and is leading the global charts on several fronts. “It is due to my confidence in the capability of every Indian that I have given a guarantee that in my third term, India will become the third largest economy in the world and Modi’s guarantee means guarantee to fulfill the guarantee,” he added.

The Ahlan Modi event saw traditional dances and Modi speaking in Arabic, even as the Indian diaspora chanted slogans of ‘Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi,’ ‘We Love Modi,’ ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai,’ and ‘Jai Shree Ram’. From Kathak to Garba to Rajasthani folk dances to Haryanvi dance and the classical rendition of Vande Mataram, the cultural performances enthralled the audience, which later also grooved to the patriotic chartbusters.

Modi sprinkled phrases about pride in being an Indian in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu drawing instant loud applause from the audience. But the loudest response was when Modi spoke a few sentences in Arabic to highlight the linkages between words spoken in India with that language.

At the end of his address, the Prime Minister took a round of the stadium in a batter-powered vehicle waving at the crowd as an excited audience clicked selfies.

Modi is on a two-day visit to the country, where he will inaugurate the largest Hindu temple on Wednesday.

With inputs from agencies

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