Digs at Pakistan, terrorism, UAE investment: Highlights of PM Modi's Dubai speech

It was Madison Square Garden all over again as Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a crowd of more than 50,000 Indians at the Dubai Cricket Stadium in UAE. The event saw a full house with the stadium packed with people chanting “Modi, Modi”. Amid a rousing welcome, the Prime Minister spoke about various issues including India’s renewed relations with UAE, terrorism, new initiatives for NRIs and relationship with neighbouring countries. Here are the key takeaways from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech: [caption id=“attachment_2396334” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Dubai Cricket Stadium. PTI[/caption] Indian ties with UAE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the fact that despite no Indian prime minister having visited UAE in the last 34 years, he was given a hearty welcome in UAE and the country trusted Indians enough to invest Rs 4.5 lakh crore in India. PM Modi said, “The Crown Prince has planned to invest Rs 4.5 lakh crore in India. If people did not have trust in you, will they even want to invest Rs 10 in India?” PM Modi also spoke of the warmth with which he was welcomed in UAE. He said, “If no Indian PM had visited UAE in 34 years, they had the right to be angry with India. But in Abu Dhabi, His Highness Crown Prince and in Dubai, His Highness Al Maktoum has only showered love on me.” “His Highness Crown Prince came to receive me at the airport with all his five brothers. But this love is not just for me. It is the welcome of the 1.25 crore people of India, it is the respect for a change India,” PM Modi added. Speaking about the Crown Prince’s plan to allot land for a temple in Abu Dhabi PM Modi said, “People who know about Abu Dhabi also know what a big step it is to provide land for an Indian temple to be set up there. " He asked the people of the stadium to give a standing ovation to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Terrorism: Like he did in Canada, France and the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the world to unite against terrorism and took veiled digs at Pakistan. Modi said, “Today there has been a message that has gone out from here to the world and I think it is very important. Those who are involved in terrorism should be punished.” “Itna hi nhi, samajhne wale samajh jaayenge, akalmand ko ishaara kaafi hai (those who need to understand this will understand),” PM Modi said, taking a dig at Pakistan. He also said, “India has faced terrorism for years. But now the whole world faces it… The time has come for all nations who believe in humanity to stand against those who support terrorism or perpetrators of terrorism.” “Terrorism has no boundaries. I heard about the Bangkok blast. India has been tolerating such incidents for a long time now,” he said. “Talks of good terrorism, bad terrorism would not do,” PM Modi said. Relationship with neighbouring countries: Highlighting his government’s work in improving relations between India and its neighbouring countries, Prime Minister Modi spoke of the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh and help for Nepal during the earthquake. He said, “We had been free since 15 August, 1947, but for some, independence came on 1 August, 2015… Only talks can solve problems that countries face with their neighbours,” PM Modi said. About Nepal he said, “After Nepal earthquake, Indians didn’t wait. We immediately rushed to Nepal’s help.” Speaking of Maldives, Modi said, “Maldives was facing water shortage at one point. We sent drinking water to Maldives through flights.” “Earlier, SAARC was used to blame each other. Today, we dream of a SAARC satellite. We tried to bring about unity in SAARC,” Modi said and taking another dig at Pakistan he added, “There will always be some who will be bothered by us. But should we stop work and progress for them? " Announcements for NRIs: PM Modi also announced several schemes for NRIs. “Government of India has launched an E-migrate portal named ‘Madad’ to address your grievances.” “For those NRIs who fall into trouble, we have set up a fund to help NRIs who are in jail. Those who need lawyers and are not able to afford it, they will get help through this fund,” he said. “We don’t look at the colour of the passport for Indians. The colour of our blood is enough,” said PM Modi. Permanent seat in UN Security Council: Like terrorism, Prime Minister has pitched for a permanent place for India in the UN Security Council. He said, “UAE has supported India’s candidature for permanent membership at UN Security Council.” He also criticised the UN saying, “UN hasn’t been able to define terrorism properly till now.”