Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Jan 5 : Congress president Rahul is all set to visit UAE as part of his international outreach, he will address Indian expatriates at 4.30 pm on January 11 at Dubai International Cricket stadium at Sports City, which has a capacity of 25,000.
This is the first time Gandhi will visit the UAE and only the second time a Congress president is visiting the country in almost 40 years. The last time a Congress leader visiting the UAE was in 1981 when Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi's grandmother, visited.
The trip, earlier scheduled for October, is part of Gandhi’s outreach programme, which has seen him travel to the US, Bahrain, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany and the UK.
AICC general secretary and former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy has been given the charge of organising the two-day visit to UAE, according to the sources.
The organizing committee and associations of various Indian communities have already completed their preparations for the event. Along with special invitation to expats who belong to coastal Karnataka , Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, U T Khader, former minister, B Ramanath Rai, senior Congress leader and former state minister and Mangaluru ex MLA, J R Lobo, former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, have appealed to the Indians living in the Gulf to attend the event in large numbers and witness the historic moment.
Organisers of the event have requested people to reach stadium well before 4.15pm on Friday.
In his appeal to the expats, U T Khader said, "Indian community is going to witness a historic moment on January 11. Our national leader, Rahul Gandhi, is visiting UAE and conducting meetings with various sections of the Indian community. Already the expats have prepared themselves to welcome Rahul on his UAE visit wholeheartedly and they are eagerly waiting for him and share their thoughts, and discuss issues with him. The international diplomatic arena is also monitoring this visit very closely with due respect and importance,”
Further he said, "Rahul already has become people's voice in India. He always speaks and fights for the citizens. Nowadays it has become a common scene to find people belonging to all sections of the society especially farmers , youths, women, elders and others solidly supporting him and appreciating his leadership. It is a good sign for our country. We can see similar sentiments among expats also. Normally expats are more watchful on country's political, and financial affairs. Now they clearly know what is happening in India. They want a change and they know Rahul alone can bring the change as envisaged by them. So there is no doubt that Rahul's visit to UAE will be more important from various angles. It is my kind request to all NRIs from coastal Karnataka to participate in the public gathering which has been planned on 11th of January at Sports city Dubai at 4 pm," Khader added.
Ramanath Rai said, "UAE has a large number of expats from coastal Karnataka and northern districts of Kerala. It is the right time for them to meet Rahul Gandhi who already has been proclaimed as the leader of our nation by citizens. He will address the Indian community and listen to their problems and grievances. His UAE visit shows his concern for the Indian community living in different parts of the world. For expats he is a leader who has the capacity to listen to them and lead them. There is high hope on his visit and he will never disappoint the community. So it is my request to all the expats of UAE especially from coastal and the northern districts of Kerala to gather in large numbers and show solidarity towards achieving betterment of our country."
Inviting people to the event, J R Lobo said "Rahul Gandhi not only is a leader of a party, but he also is a leader of our country. He has fully dedicated himself to the nation, it's citizens and their development. We appreciate him for his leadership which is very essential for India. We all know his ideology and leadership will gave a new dimension for our country. In the present scenario Rahul Gandhi alone can lead our country on the right path and direction. During the past five years we witnessed the problem of unemployment, lack of development, poor economic policies, rise in the prices of essential commodities, downfall of rupee and many more which are directly affecting the citizens.”
“The political parties which are within the ruling front have begun to criticize the government for its poor performance. They failed to fulfill the promises given to the people so they lost their confidence in the ruling BJP at the Center,” he added.
The leadership of Rahul Gandhi has given rise to a new hope among the people for the better future of country. His UAE meet for the Indian non-residents is a welcome gesture. I appeal to all the non residents of India, especially from coastal Karnataka, to be present at his public meeting on 11th of this month, he requested.
"It is a golden opportunity for the NRIs to bring the problems they are facing in India to the notice of Rahul Gandhi. It is the right time to discuss various issues which NRIs have been facing in India including the right to cast their votes from their working place through postal ballet or any other method." Lobo said.
Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MP and state minister also requested people of Udupi and Mangaluru region, spread across UAE to gather in support of Rahul Gandhi. Criticizing current Central regime, Sorake said, “”Hasty implementation of GST, which was done without application of mind, has led to country's economy disaster. Demonization has not yielded any fruits, with all the money going back to RBI. Black money issue has not been contained as promised during the election rallies. Demonetization has created unemployment problems. 38% of labour force in construction industry of the country, which is mother of all industries, has been affected due to this. Now majority of the labour force, who lost jobs, have opted for robbery and anti-social activities, which is unfortunate,"
"The international price for crude oil has fallen by nearly 50 per cent compared to UPA's rule. But the present fuel price is not adjusted accordingly. Modi government has failed in every angle," Sorake added.
Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare about Rahul's visit said, “Indians in UAE are looking forward to the imminent visit by Rahul Gandhi. Of late, he has become a mature and seasoned politician who is addressing the crucial issues facing the country. His impeccable integrity and highly secular outlook endears him to many, who see him as a future Prime Minister of India. He is very well placed to strengthen the strategic relationship between India and UAE nurtured by his father, grandmother and great grandfather who were all past Prime Ministers of India."
The theme of the stadium event is ‘Gandhi 150 years: The idea of India”. Earlier in the day on January 11, Rahul Gandhi will attend a luncheon hosted by Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) and is expected to interact with a group of students.
Dr B R Shetty, chairman of the group said, “We are holding a luncheon meeting in Abu Dhabi for 200 people and also there is a public meeting at ISC in the evening."
During his visit, Rahul will also visit Shaikh Zayed Mosque, attend a meeting organised by Indian Business and Professional Group and an event organised by India Social and Cultural in the evening. There will be a luncheon meeting at Abu Dhabi for 200 people and also there is a public meeting at ISC in the evening.