Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the Indian diaspora at Muscat's Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Oman. He arrived here on a two-day visit on the last leg of his tour of three West Asian countries during which he would hold talks with the Sultan of Oman and other key leaders.
Modi, who arrived here from Dubai, also met Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said and Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs Sayyid Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said.
Earlier today, PM Modi delivered a keynote address at the World Government Summit in Dubai where India is a guest of honour this year. PM Modi gave the inaugural address on the theme “Technology for Development”. PM Modi also met His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and PM of UAE.
Also Read: PM Modi meets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; India, UAE sign 5 pacts
Earlier in the day, PM Modi witnessed the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the first Hindu temple in the capital of the UAE, home to over three million people of Indian origin.
The prime minister started his day with a tour of Wahat Al Karama in Abu Dhabi. Later he flew to Dubai Opera where the PM witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Akshardham temple and addressed the Indian community.
Here are the highlights:
09:45 pm:
09:39 pm: Those who visit India between 2022 and 2024 will witness a new revolutionary infrastructure -- the bullet train: PM Modi
09:31 pm: Next generation infrastructure is being developed in country keeping in mind the needs of 21st century.We are working towards making transportation sector co-dependent. Highway, Airway, Railway & Waterway are being integrated together according to each other needs: PM Modi in Oman
09:30 pm: In view of the need of the 21st century now, the Next Generation infrastructure is being constructed. Sagarmala project has been started: PM Modi
09:25 pm: In this year's budget, we have announced the Ayushmaan Bharat policy through which 10 crore households, which means an estimate of 45-50 crore people, will be provided health insurance: PM Modi
09:25 pm: The country cannot progress with a style of misgovernance in 21st century. Nobody has ever questioned what Modi has taken away in the last four years. We have managed to bring the country out of scams.
09:23 pm: We want that one wearing "hawai chappal" gets to travel in "hawai jahaz", says PM Modi
09:22 pm:
09:15 pm: Life insurance has been given to the poor only at Rs 90 paise per day and Rs 1 per month. Under this insurance scheme, the poor have been given a claim amount of Rs 2 thousand crore: PM Modi
09:11 pm: Making procedures simpler, abolishing unnecessary laws, reducing form pages in government offices from 40-50 to 4-5, bringing them on online platform, listening to people's problems with sincerity & taking action on them, were involved in the culture of governance
09:06 pm: Minimum-government, maximum-governance.. with this slogan we are trying to promote easy of living for everyone.
09:02 pm: The relation between India and Oman is several thousand years old... Wooden boats would come to Lothal from Omar... there was a spell of where we lost our freedom but our business ties and relations with Omar stayed strong
09:00 pm: His Majesty Sultan has an inseparable bond with India. My presence in the stadium named after His Majesty holds a huge significance: PM Narendra Modi in Muscat
08:55 pm: In the past 3 years, we are strengthening our relation with Gulf nations and this has given a new leash of energy to India-Omar ties
08:53 pm: Over 1500 Indian companies investing in Oman, says PM Modi
08:51 pm: 10 years ago, I was to visit Africa as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. I passed by Salalah, stayed there for some time, met some people & today I again got the opportunity to meet them. I wanted to visit Oman since a long time: PM Narendra Modi in Muscat
08:44 pm: Seeing a little India in Oman, says PM Modi
08:43 pm: The diversity that India has is not in any other nation: PM Modi
08:41 pm:
08:40 pm:
08:08 pm:
07:25 pm:
07:10 pm:
04:37 pm:
03:33 pm: In his keynote address on this theme at World Government Summit, PM highlighted the importance of assimilating technology in the governance to ensure equitable growth and prosperity for all. PM emphasized the role technology was playing in India's development.
03:26 pm:
03:25 pm: Even after all the development, poverty & malnutrition have still not been eliminated. On the other side we're investing large portion of money, time & resources on missiles & bombs. We will have to be alert & use technology as a means to development & not destruction: PM Modi
03:15 pm: We need to follow the six R s that stand for reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, redesign and remanufacture, this will lead to rejoice meaning 'Anand'
03:05 pm: We need to follow the six R s that stand for reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, redesign and remanufacture, this will lead to rejoice meaning 'Anand': PM Narendra Modi
01:45 pm: Strengthening our comprehensive strategic partnership! PM Modi met with Vice President and PM of UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai. The two leaders had an engaging discussion on expanding our cooperation in trade & investment, defence & security and people-to-people contacts.
01:00 pm: This is how the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi would look like once completed! PM unveiled the model of the temple and thanked the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi for gracious donation of the land. The temple will be a testimony to UAE's commitment to tolerance & harmony, tweets MEA India
12:12 pm: I assure you that we will work together to bring to reality the dreams you see, here and in India: PM
12:07 pm: India is ready for 'Vaishwik Daityva' (global responsibility), we have to work hard to make 21st century Asia's century: PM
12:05 pm: India's leap in World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Rankings from 142 to 100 is unprecedented. But we are not satisfied at this, we want to do better. We will do whatever it takes to make it possible: PM
12:00 pm: I plead my fellow Indians to reciprocate the love and respect UAE kingdoms have shown to them: PM
11:59 am: Temples are catalytic agents of peace and harmony, I believe this temple will not be only unique in terms of architecture & splendour, but will also give a message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' to people across the world: PM
11:57 am: I thank Gulf nations for giving a second home to over 30 Lakh Indians: PM Modi
11:56 am: After decades India has forged such strong relationship with Gulf nations: PM Modi
11:55 am: I want to thank His Highness Crown Price on behalf of 125 crore Indians for the grand temple which will be constructed: PM
11:55 am: PM Modi begins address of Indian Community
11:46 am: PM Modi will address the Indian community here shortly
11:45 am: PM Modi and UAE dignitaries witness the ceremony in Dubai Opera House, where the ceremony is being live streamed.
11:43 am:
11:40 am: The groundbreaking ceremony for Abu Dhabi's first traditional Hindu temple begins.
11:00 am: PM Modi paid tributes to brave soldiers of UAE who made ultimate sacrifice in the service of UAE at Wahat Al Karama, "Oasis of Dignity”! in Abu Dhabi, tweeted MEA India
07:15 am: PM Modi to witness foundation stone ceremony for first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi at 9.30 am. The Indian Prime Minister will flag off laying of the temple’s foundation stone during the community event.
07:10 am: PM Modi met the Temple Committee members last night who presented him with the temple literature. “This will be the first stone temple to be built in Abu Dhabi off Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
07:05 am: Indian Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri said that the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi will come up on 55,000 square metres of land and the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday will be a historic event.
07:00 am: Modi will hold a meeting with the Indian community at Dubai Opera House. Representatives of all major organisations and a number of Indian professionals have been invited.
Also read: Ten things to know about first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi
06:55 am: The temple will be hand-carved by Indian temple artisans and assembled in the UAE. It will be completed by 2020, and open to people of all religious backgrounds. It will be the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East, said a spokesperson from the BAPS.
06:45 am: Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), is a socio-spiritual Hindu organisation set up in 1907 that runs more than 1,100 temples and cultural compounds around the world.
06:40 am: The temple will incorporate all aspects and features of a traditional Hindu temple as part of a fully functional, social, cultural and spiritual complex. It will replicate the BAPS temple in New Delhi and the one under construction in New Jersey, a trust member told Khaleej Times.
06:35 am: The temple will be open to people of all beliefs and backgrounds, races and religions, the temple will be a part of the UAE’s mission of happiness and harmony by helping to foster love, tolerance, understanding and peaceful coexistence, the statement said.
06:30 am: It will serve the more than 3.3 million Indians residing in and the millions of international tourists annually visiting the UAE through interfaith dialogue, pluralism and universal human values.
06:25 am: Expected to be completed by 2020, it will also include a visitors’ centre, prayer halls, exhibitions, learning areas, sports area for children and youths, thematic gardens, water features and a food court, the statement said.
