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

Amid a sea of glowing lights from cell phones of 40,000 people who had gathered at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, PM Modi started his address with a ‘Namaskar’ and was greeted with chants of ‘Modi, Modi’. The PM said he was overwhelmed by the affection of the community.

“Today’s memory will be with me forever because I have come here to meet members of my family,” he said, adding, “I have come here with a message from over 140 crore Indians that the country is proud of you.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. (PTI)

“You have scripted history by coming in such large numbers here. You may have come from different parts of the UAE and from different states of India, but everyone’s hearts are connected,” Modi said.

“This is the time to hail the friendship between India and the UAE. In this historic stadium, every heartbeat echoes the same sentiment, ‘long live Bharat-UAE friendship’,” Modi said at the event that began with the National Anthems of the two countries.

#WATCH | At the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event in Abu Dhabi, PM Modi says, “Our relation is that of talent, innovation and culture. In the past, we have re-energised our relations, in every direction. The two countries have walked together and have gone ahead together. Today, UAE is India’s… pic.twitter.com/KKLn32J5uu

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

Recalling his first visit to the UAE in 2015, Modi said he was new to the Central government at that time and new to diplomacy, and it was the first UAE visit by any Indian Prime Minister in three decades. Modi’s ongoing visit to the UAE is his third in the last eight months.

“At that time, I was welcomed at the airport by the then Crown Prince and today’s President (Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan). I can never forget that warmth,” he said.

“Mere prati unka apnatava meri bahut badi poonji hai (His affection towards me is a big treasure for me),” the PM said, also thanking the UAE President for enabling the construction of the Hindu temple in the country.

“In 10 years, it is my seventh visit to the UAE,” Modi said. “I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you.” The Prime Minister also said he was fortunate to have been bestowed with the Order of Zayed, the highest civilian award of the UAE. “It is an honour not just for me but for 140 crore Indians,” he said.

Modi expressed confidence that India will become the third largest economy by 2030, and also dwelt on India being a “Vishwabandhu” and contributing to global progress and well-being.

“Today, every single Indian’s aim is to make India a developed nation by 2047. It’s our India that is witnessing robust economic growth and it is our India which is leading the global charts on several fronts,” Modi said.

For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India, PM Modi said, “Modi has given a guarantee that in his third term, India will become the third largest economy. Modi ki guarantee yani guarantee pura hone ki guarantee.”

He also listed out the achievements that India has registered over the last one decade, be it the success of the country’s space programme, or digital payments infrastructure, which is now being replicated in other countries. He also mentioned the setting up of an IIT-Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi and the setting up of a CBSE office in UAE.

Underlining the cultural ties between the two countries, Modi spoke a few lines in Arabic, which he later translated as “both India and the UAE are scripting a better future on ‘duniya ki kitaab’ with ‘waqt ki kalam’.”

After the 38-minute speech, the PM took a round of the stadium in an open vehicle to greet people. The Indian diaspora is the largest group in the UAE with a population of 3.5 million. The event drew participation from the Indian diaspora from across the seven emirates and included Indians from all communities, said a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, adding that the audience also included Emiratis.