Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
With IANS & PTI Inputs
Dubai, Aug 17: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday August 17 addressed a massive crowd of over 50,000 Indians at Dubai cricket ground here and said that India is proud of its expatriates who are toiling hard day and night in the UAE.
"You are the people who have been working hard to earn your livelihoods, some from 10 years, some from 60 years, and at the same time, you have never stepped back in making India proud. When it rains in India, my Indian friend in Dubai opens his umbrella, and when there is drought in India, the Indian in Dubai cannot sleep peacefully," he said, evoking a thundering applause from the crowd.
"When A B Vajpayee was the PM, India had done nuclear test which had shocked the world. Some were angry and overnight sanctions were imposed on India and the country slipped into economic difficulties. Vajpayee had then urged NRIs staying around the globe to help India, and today I can say with pride that people working in the Gulf contributed the most by responding to Vajpayee's call.
"Every Indian living here is connected to every part of India. During the last Lok Sabha elections, when the results were announced, not only the whole of India, but the entire Dubai danced in joy," he said.
He also wished the crowd on India's Independence Day, and addressing the Kerala community, greeted them in Malayalam on the Malayalam New Year which falls on August 17, much to the delight of the crowd.
Reiterating the importance of his visit and taking a dig at the previous UPA government, he said, "Every week 700 flights connect India with UAE, but it took 34 years for a PM to come here. Sometimes I feel the previous governments left some good things to me, hence I have had the good fortune to take up so many good works. My visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai are one of these good things."
Lauding UAE and its rulers, he said, "In Abu Dhabi the Crown Prince and in Dubai Sheikh Al Makhtoum showered so much love on me - I will never forget the love, welcome and respect they bestowed on me. Their love is not for any individual - it is for the 125 crore Indians, it is for the changed image of India, it is a reiteration of how India is making its presence felt in the world, it is in honour of that change. I am very grateful to the rulers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi."
The Prime Minister got the cheering crowd to give a standing ovation to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his gesture in giving land for a temple for Indians.
"I give my heartfelt thanks to the crown prince and the UAE and Dubai rulers for the gesture," Modi said to the cheering crowd.
"On the one hand there is terrorism in the name of religion, and innocents are killed; and at such a time of concern, the crown prince has given land in Abu Dhabi for a temple for the Indians," he said.
"The people who know Abu Dhabi, they realise that the decision is of such importance. All Indians should thank him. I appeal to you all people to thank him with a round of applause for the gesture, and give a standing ovation to the Crown Prince," he said.
"An atmosphere of trust has been created during my two-day visit to the UAE. The bridge of trust between Indian and UAE is now so strong that it will last for generations to come," he added.
"The Crown Prince has promised an investment of Rs 4.5 lac crore in India. This is a testimony to the trust we have built. It is becuase of the change in India's image. India is striding forward.
"Today when you hear India's name your eyes twinkle and you hold your head high with pride. Today the way the world looks at India has changed. What is the reason? It is not Modi - it is because of the 125 crore Indians. After 30 years a political party got elected in India with majority. Today when a world leader looks into Modi's eyes, he does not see Modi - he sees 125 crore Indians, he sees the swift economic growth India is achieving. All the leading economic bodies in the world, be it IMF or World Bank, have said that today India is the fastest growing economy in the world. This change has come in just one year.
"We launched Make in India initiative a few months ago. I have been telling the world to Make in India. India is a land of possibilities and opportunities, this is land where 65 percent of the population is below 35 years. Very soon, with initiatives like Digital India and others we will climb the zenith of success," he added.
Calling for a united fight against terrorism, Modi said, "Indians have become victims of terroism for 40 years. Our people have been slaughtered. Today there was bomb blast in Bangkok and innocents were killed. It is time for the world community to fight unitedly against terrorism and those who support terrorims. There is no good terrorism and bad terrorism and no good Taliban and bad Taliban. Decide today if you support terrorism or humanity. To this day India is becoming victim of such violence every other day, and we have been trying to find a solution."
Modi also took a veiled swipe at Pakistan over terrorism, saying India and the UAE have come out with a clear message against terrorism in their joint statement, "without caring for anyone".
India and the UAE have come out against terrorism, "without any camouflage, in clear terms, without caring for anyone, given a clear message against terrorism", Modi said, to thousands of cheering Indian diaspora at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
In a jibe at Pakistan, he said "those who need to understand will do so" - the message of the joint statement against terrorism by India and the UAE.
"Samajhnewale samajh jayengey. Akalmand ko ishara kafi hai," he said.
While talking about terrorism, Modi took a swipe at UN Security Council, saying that it has not been able to define terrorism and which country should be declared as "terrorist state".
In this context, he said a proposal on Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism has been pending for long and the UAE has backed India's stand on the matter.
"In Nagaland there was problem of insurgency even before Independence, and this slowly spread to other states. But less than a month ago, we moved ahead successfully with different factions of Nagaland after 60-70 years of insurgency (in that northeastern state)," Modi said referring to the peace accord signed on August 3 between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah).
"I am citing Nagaland because I want to tell people across the world, including the youth, that however complicated a problem might be, it can be solved through dialogue," he said. He also took the example of the recent Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh to stress the point that issues can be resolved only through dialogue.
"Forsake the path of violence - this is the need of the hour," he urged.
The Prime Minister spoke on a range of issues including ties with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan and steps for bolstering connectivity and trust among SAARC countries.
On efforts to boost intra-SAARC connectivity on the pattern of European Union, Modi said that "some people" had problems, in oblique reference to Pakistan which was not forthcoming in finalising a pact.
"Should we stop because some people had problem. Let them stay where they are. We are moving ahead. India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh have signed a pact for building connectivity. It is a major decision which will have implication in the long run,' said Modi.
The Prime Minister said India will next year launch a SAARC satellite which will provide free services to SAARC countries, meant for common people.
"A new life has been infused in SAARC which was earlier a forum for sparring and efforts to corner India. Our dream is to take development of SAARC nations to newer heights," he said adding "Trust is important in international relations."
Welfare fund to help diaspora
Modi also announced a welfare fund for the Indian diaspora in the UAE to help them in legal cases, and said he would also look into the issue of increasing the number of schools for the diaspora.
Modi said an e-migrant portal has been created to help Indian migrant workers and an online platform 'MADAD' to assist the diaspora.
Modi said he has instructed the Indian embassy in UAE to solve some technical problems dogging the e-migrant portal in a month's time. "I am sure the technical problem will be solved by the embassy," he said.
He also said that most Indian workers do not have money to run from place to place to solve their problems.
"I have directed the embassy that wherever Indians are collected, to hold counsellor camps once a month, and sit and meet the workers and take steps to resolve the problems," he said, to loud cheering.
He said a welfare fund for diaspora is to be set up for their benefit, to help them legally so that they can deal with problems.
With regard to school problems, Modi said he has spoken about it and "told them to increase the number of schools. Let us see, we will take steps to benefit you", he said.
Modi said "wherever my Indians are, we never see the colour of the passport, their link with the motherland is enough", to loud cheering.
He ended his speech by asking the crowd to say after him "Bharat Mata ki Jai" with raised arms.
The entire stadium with the thousands of Indians stood up, and with raised arms, raised the slogan after the prime minister.
Modi's speech lasted for over an hour.