First ever Indian PM’s visit to Palestine; diaspora focus in UAE, Oman

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark upon a State visit to Palestine, UAE and Oman from February 9 to 12. This is the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine coming a few months after he went to Israel on a standalone visit de-hyphenating India’s ties with the two countries.

Since Modi’s Israel visit, India voted in favour of a UN resolution opposing the US move to shift its embassy to Jerusalem. The Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan was recalled after he shared stage with terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed at a public rally. And Israeli PM Netanyahu recently concluded his first official visit to India. 

Stressing that there has been no change in India’s official support for the Palestinian cause, B Bala Bhaskar, Joint Secretary in MEA, said, “PM is going himself to Palestine to reiterate Indian commitment of 70 years and expressing solidarity with Palestinian people.”

Prime Minister Modi who will reach Palestine via Jordan, will spend only a few hours in Ramallah on February 10. Before entering into official talks he will pay tributes at the Yasser Arafat Museum. He will then hold official discussions and be hosted for a banquet lunch by President Mahmoud Abbas. Around half-a-dozen MoUs are expected to be exchanged during Modi’s visit towards ‘capacity and infrastructure building’ in the conflict-torn country.

In Dubai, Modi will deliver keynote address at the Sixth World Government Summit. India receives 50 per cent of its oil supplies and nearly 65 per cent of LNG supplies from the Gulf region. The diaspora size has grown from 6 million to 9 million plus in last five years, sending home remittances of $35 billion annually.

While in Dubai the PM will be hosted for a banquet dinner by the Crown Prince, engage with some top community professionals and also lay foundation stone for a proposed temple in Abu Dhabi. Asked about Indian concerns about deepening crisis between Saudi, UAE and Qatar, Mridul Kumar, Joint Secretary in-charge of Gulf, replied, “We have not spoken about intra-regional rivalries. Irrespective of how the regional situation is developing we have been able to insulate our vital stakes very well from any adverse possible effect.”

The Prime Minister’s last stop will be Oman where he will meet CEOs, visit Sultan Kabuski mosque and ancient Shiva temple in Muscat other than official engagements. Kerala priest Father Tom who had been kidnapped in Yemen was released after India sought Omani government help. Modi will focus on the importance of the security partnership during his visit.

First temple in UAE

Indian community in UAE will soon get its first temple. The temple will be built on a big patch of land between Abu Dhabi and Dubai under the UAE government’s guidance. PM Modi will during his two-hour community engagement in Dubai lay the Foundation stone through video link.