Modi honoured with ‘Order of Zayed’ award
ABU DHABI, Aug 24:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was revoked to end its “isolation” which allowed some of the youth to be “misguided, get radicalised and take to violence and terrorism”.
Defending his Government’s moves, Modi said it was India’s “internal steps” which was taken in a “completely democratic, open, transparent and constitutional” manner.
Modi, who is in the UAE on the second leg of his three-nation tour, in an interview with the Khaleej Times on Friday, said his Gover-nment scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution to end the isolation that had kept Jammu and Kashmir underdeveloped “to serve the vested interests of a few.”
“This isolation also allowed some of the youth to be misguided, get radicalised and take to violence and terrorism,” he said.
“We cannot afford to let these tendencies get any foothold in our harmonious society and distract us from the primary tasks of growth and development of the entire country. I appreciate the understanding the UAE and its leadership have shown for our steps and our reasons for taking them,” said Modi, who held talks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday.
Responding to a question on the scrapping of Article 370 from the Constitution and whether the Gulf countries understand India’s concerns, Modi said, “As far as Article 370 is concerned, our internal steps were taken in a completely democratic, open, transparent and Constitutional manner. They were designed to end the isolation that had kept Jammu-Kashmir underdeveloped to serve the vested interests of a few.”
He thanked the UAE’s leadership for backing India on the issue.
The UAE has backed India on its decision to revoke provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the State into two union territories.
The Gulf nation’s ambassador to India Ahmad Al Banna had said that he viewed India’s decisions relating to Jammu and Kashmir as an internal matter of the country.
The BJP Government claimed that Article 370 was the cause of the lack of development in Jammu and Kashmir as it limits the Centre’s powers to implement special provisions and schemes.
On terrorism, Modi said, “India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism for over four decades. Both India and the UAE have a common interest in ensuring that the anti-humanity forces that shelter or promote terrorism in any way are compelled to give up their destructive policies.”
He said the UAE has shown “full understanding” of the strong steps India has taken against terrorism. “We have exemplary cooperation to ensure mutual security,” he said.
“Terrorism and extremism are a threat to humankind. It is the responsibility of everyone to oppose them with all the force at their command. India and the UAE have rapidly expanded their cooperation for security, based not only on their common concerns but also their shared values,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi said strengthening ties with the UAE remains one of the most important foreign policy priorities of his Government.
Talking about cooperation in all sectors between India and the UAE, he said, the rapport shared between the leaders has helped the countries break new ground.
“Tolerant UAE and secular India”, he said, are “natural partners”.
“To millions of Indians, the UAE is a second home. They feel welcomed in the UAE’s ethos rooted in respect for diversity. How many countries in the world have a separate Minister for Tolerance in the Cabinet? I am gratified that the UAE leadership consciously promotes co-existence and harmony. It is a landmark development to allot land for the construction of a temple for the Indian community working and living in the UAE. I truly appreciate this gesture by the UAE’s leadership.”
He said since the time of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, the country has been a beacon of enlightenment and forward-looking policies.
“That’s why the world has come to it and made this place its home and preferred business partner,” he said.
Meanwhile, Narendra Modi was honoured with the ‘Order of Zayed’, the UAE’s highest civilian award, today in recognition of his pivotal role in building the strategic relationship between the two countries.
The award has earlier been bestowed on several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Modi thanked the UAE Government for the honour and dedicated the award to the skills and abilities of 1.3 billion Indians.
The award was conferred on Modi by the Abu Dhabi crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
“Humbled to be conferred the ‘Order of Zayed’ a short while ago. More than an individual, this award is for India’s cultural ethos and is dedicated to 130 crore Indians. I thank the UAE Government for this honour,” Modi tweeted later.
Meanwhile, Modi today discussed ways to improve trade and cultural ties between India and the UAE with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Welcoming Modi, the crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressed gratitude to his “brother” for visiting “his second home”.
“Had an excellent meeting with His Highness Crown Prince @MohamedBinZayed. We spoke about multiple subjects, including ways to improve trade and people-to-people relations between India and UAE,” Modi tweeted after the meeting.
The Prime Minister also said the crown prince’s “personal commitment” to strenghten the bilateral relations is “very strong”.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said there was a “new energy” in the relationship between the two leaders.
He quoted the crown prince as saying, “I am so grateful that my brother is coming to his second home.”
With robust flow of bilateral investments and an annual bilateral trade of about USD 60 billion, the UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner. It is also the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India.
In an interview to the UAE’s official news agency, WAM, Modi said India has found a “valuable partner” in the UAE to achieve its ambitious dream of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25.
He said the UAE-India relations are “at their best ever”, adding that the UAE investments in key sectors in India are growing.
“There has been an increasing interest in investments in India in sectors ranging from renewable energy, food, ports, airports, defence manufacturing and other sectors. UAE investments in infrastructure and housing (sectors) are being enhanced,” Modi said.
Both the countries are working closely and vigorously to implement the commitment of USD 75 billion investment by the UAE in India, he said. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
