Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian PM to visit UAE in 34 years. His maiden two-day trip comprised of business meetings, interaction with Indian workers and visits to religious shrines.
It all started off with the visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the world’s third largest mosque where Modi later met Indian workers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
On the second day of his UAE visit, Modi visited Masdar, a zero-carbon smart city and hub of science and technology innovations based on renewable energy.
During his nearly hour-long tour, the city authorities briefed the PM about various aspects of the Masdar City situated around 17 kilometres southeast of the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. “Science is life,” Modi digitally wrote in the visitors’ book at Masdar City.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his visit to Masdar city
The PM also attacked previous governments from foreign soil, evoking a sharp reaction from Congress which termed his “pathetic lowbrow jibes” as “abominable”.
Modi, while addressing business leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Masdar City of the Gulf country, said his government has got some problems in legacy and his immediate priority would be to kick-start the things which were stalled by the “indecisiveness and lethargy” of the past governments.
Modi on his visit to Masdar city
He visited a labour camp in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, August 16, to highlight New Delhi’s concern about the welfare of its migrant workers helping to build glitzy skyscrapers, hotels and museums in the oil-rich Gulf state.
PM interacting with Indian workers at the ICAD residential city, in Abu Dhabi
Amidst his short trip, the PM took a selfie with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, during his visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on the first day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes a selfie with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
The UAE decided to allot land for building a temple here, the first in the Emirati capital, to which Modi thanked the UAE leadership for this “landmark” decision. While there are two temples in Dubai, one of Lord Shiva and another of Krishna, there is none in Abu Dhabi.
Vikas Swarup, External Ministry Affairs Spokesperson, tweeted about the land allotment for building temple and thanked PM Modi.
A long wait for the Indian community ends. On the occasion of PM’s visit, UAE Govt decides to allot land for buildng a temple in Abu Dhabi
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) August 16, 2015 PM @narendramodi thanks UAE leadership for this landmark decision
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) August 16, 2015 While the UAE visit was more about strengthening partnership, improving trade and commerce that remained an integral part of all the recent foreign visits of PM Modi, the larger issue still remains the same — The fight against terrorism.
(All images and inputs sourced from PTI)
