Expressing gratitude for the temple, PM says it couldn’t have been possible without UAE President’s support…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the BAPS Hindu Temple and said that it reflects his love and respect for India.
The two leaders also held a bilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi, during which MoUs were exchanged. He also thanked the UAE President for accepting his invitation to be the Chief Guest at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January.
“Brother, firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your warm welcome… Whenever I come to UAE, I have always felt as if I have come to my own home, to meet with the members of my own family,” PM Modi said during the bilateral meeting.
Expressing gratitude for the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, Modi said that this couldn’t have been possible without his love and support.
“I consider the construction of BAPS temple here as a reflection of your love for India and your vision for the bright future of UAE. This couldn’t have been possible without your support. During our first meeting, I had just put up a simple request for you to look into it and you took a prompt decision, asking me to ‘Put your finger on any piece of land, you will get it’. Perhaps, this level of love and trust showcases the unique relationship,” PM Modi said.
He said that the depth of the India-UAE relationship can be understood by the fact that the two leaders have met five times in the last seven months, which is very ‘rare’.
“I have also had the opportunity to come here seven times, this is our closeness and the way we have progressed in every field. There is a joint partnership between India and the UAE in every field. We are going to make many important decisions. We are introducing UPI and our Jeevan card, both of these are starting a new era of fintech, and this is also very big in itself,” the Prime Minister said.
He added, “In the same way, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for accepting my invitation and coming to my home state. You gave a new height to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. It has also increased the prestige and reputation of that event around the world. Your visit and your address were very inspiring and motivating for the people of India. I am grateful to you for this too.”
He also praised the India-Middle East-Economic-Corridor as a visionary step that will have a long-term impact in terms of connectivity and economic progress.
“The two nations are progressing in a crucial direction. The way we have got your support for IMEC, I think it will not just help in connecting the two regions, but also open new doors of economic progress. The coming generations will remember the president who gave direction to the world and performed such a crucial job,” he further added.
‘You have created history’
Later, Modi told a gathering of the Indian diaspora in UAE that he had brought with him the fragrance of the soil where they were born and a message of 140 crore citizens of India that “Bharat is proud of you”.
Speaking at the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event at Zayed Sports Stadium, Modi said people from various regions of the UAE and different states of India have gathered at the venue and “everyone’s hearts are connected”.
“Today in Abu Dhabi, you have created a new history. You have come here from all corners of the UAE and different states of India. But everyone’s heart is connected. At this historic stadium, every heartbeat, every breath, every voice says – Long live India-UAE friendship,” PM Modi said.
“I have come to meet my family members. I have brought the fragrance of the soil where you were born and have brought the message of 140 crore people. The message is that Bharat is proud of you,” he added.
The Prime Minister was greeted by “Modi-Modi” slogans before he began his speech.
“Let’s create memories that will last a lifetime, memories that you and I will cherish forever. Your enthusiasm paints a beautiful picture of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.’ The love and support you show me is overwhelming. I am deeply grateful to every one of you,” he said.
Emphasising the commitment to provide the best education in the UAE, Modi also announced that a new Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) office will soon be established in Dubai.
Addressing the gathering, Modi highlighted the significant achievements in the education sector, stating that “More than 1.5 lakh Indian students are studying in UAE schools… The master’s course was started at the IIT Delhi campus here last month and a new CBSE office will be opened soon in Dubai. These institutions will be helpful in providing the best education to the Indian community here”. (ANI)
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