Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest visit to Abu Dhabi marks a significant shift in India’s ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), argues an analyst, ahead of the grand inauguration of the first Hindu temple in the country on Wednesday. Modi is in the UAE on a two-day visit, his seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and his third in the last eight months.
India, in the past, has overlooked the fact that the Arabian Sea long served as a fertile bridge for the exchange of ideas, stories, commerce, and culture, according to the president of the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation (ORF). “More than any Indian Prime Minister (PM) before him, Narendra Modi recognises the injustice of this neglect,” Samir Saran wrote in an article first published in the Hindustan Times newspaper.
The Indian think tank head said that the latest Modi visit signifies a “change in the relationship” and a growing appreciation of each other’s importance. “What India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have built is a special affinity. It reflects a new reality, one where the India-UAE bond is no longer voluntary but mandatory, not a choice but an instinct. PM Modi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have undertaken a systematic overhaul: We are now mutually indispensable,” he added.
In his commentary, Saran said PM Modi’s trip to inaugurate the first Hindu temple in the UAE, was an exemplar of Abu Dhabi’s promotion of a more pluralistic society. “PM Modi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed are putting in place the building blocks for a prosperous Arabian Sea community. They are restoring the sea to the storied position it held in antiquity, refreshing it and bringing it into the 21st century,” he added. Hailing India and the UAE as “partners in progress”, PM Modi on Tuesday said the ties between the two strategic partners serve as a model for the world and they are scripting a new history in the third decade of the 21st century.
“Our partnership is getting stronger in all areas and reaching newer heights. It’s India’s wish that our partnership keeps getting stronger every passing day,” he said. “India and the UAE are partners in progress. Our relationship is of talent, innovation and culture,” Modi said, addressing the Indian community here at the ‘Ahlan Modi’ (Hello Modi in Arabic) grand event. PM Modi addressed the Indian community in the UAE at the event that drew participation from the Indian Diaspora from across the 7 Emirates and included Indians from all communities.
The audience also included Emiratis. Prime Minister was greeted with special warmth by the 40000-strong audience as he entered the arena at the Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi. In his address, the Prime Minister also shared his thoughts on the contribution made by the Indian Diaspora to further strengthening bilateral relations between India and the UAE. Prime Minister thanked the Rulers and the Government of the UAE for their graciousness and care shown towards the Indian community. He also shared his vision for the progress achieved by the country in the last 10 years and expressed confidence that India will become the third largest economy by 2030 on its way to becoming a developed country – Viksit Bharat – by 2047.
Comments
0 comment