Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to stage at the Dubai International Cricket stadium on Monday evening to address a gathering of more than 50,000 people.
Calling Dubai a mini India, the PM praised the diaspora, saying they are enhancing India’s pride.
Modi’s speech was reminiscent of his large public addresses in Madison Square Garden in New York and his address to the Indian diaspora in Seoul and Shanghai.
Here are the highlights of PM Modi’s address
Today in Dubai I am seeing a mini-India
You are those people who have worked hard and are working here for many years. You are enhancing India’s pride.Sanctions were put on India after the nuclear tests. That time, Vajpayee ji had asked Indians all over the world to help the nation. Responding to Atal ji’s call, the role played by those working in the Gulf was exemplary. I can say proudly that when Vajpayee called for help, the Indian labourers in UAE helped the most.People in large numbers from Kerala are settled here. I am specially mentioning talking about them due to the New Year festival today.
Every week, more than 700 flights land here from India. But it took 34 years for an Indian PM to come here.The Crown Prince of UAE came to receive me with his five brothers at the airport. This is the honour to 1.25 billion Indians, this is an honour for India’s changed image.
Innocent people are killed in the name of religion. In such a time, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince has allotted land for a temple for the Indian community. This is a big decision, a big gift.
Crown Prince of UAE supports India’s position on terror.
Those who indulge in terror must be punished and this is the message that has resonated from here today.UAE has supported India’s candidature for permanent membership at UN Security Council.
India has suffered a lot due to terrorism. Good Taliban, Bad Taliban…Good Terror, Bad Terror…this wont work. A decision has to be taken are you with terrorism or with humanity.
Modi arrived in the UAE on Sunday on a two-day visit and has spoken on the need to forge strong counter-terrorism measures between the two nations, besides expanding trade and investment ties.