Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Dec 31: As part of his international outreach, Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address Indian expatriates at Dubai International Cricket stadium at sports city in Dubai on January 11.
Himanshu Vyas, secretary of All India Congress Committee said, "During his two-day maiden visit to the UAE, Rahul will address the Indian community at 4pm on the same day at the cricket stadium which has the capacity of 25,000. We have got permission from the authorities and we are expecting a sizeable crowd," reported Gulf News.
“The theme of the stadium event is ‘Gandhi 150 years: The idea of India”. Earlier in the day on January 11, Gandhi will attend a luncheon hosted by Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) and is expected to interact with a group of students," Vyas said.
During his visit to Abu Dhabi, 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.
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."
Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman & Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare about Rahul's visit said, “Indians in UAE are looking forward to the imminent visit by Mr Rahul Gandi… 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 Minsiter 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."
It will be the second high-profile visit of Rahul in 37 years. His grandmother and former PM of India Indira Gandhi had visited Dubai in 1981. Other than Dubai, Rahul had earlier visited several countries, including Bahrain, United States, Singapore, and Malaysia and interacted with the Indian Diaspora and met academics and officials of those countries.
The bilateral ties between India and UAE have grown since PM Modi's visits in 2015 and 2018. Rahul Gandhi's visit has been closely watched by Indian expatriates at a time when he has emerged major challenger to current Modi government ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Gandhi will be the second Indian leader to attend a community event since August 2015 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a packed crowd at the stadium during his official visit.