‘Ahlan Modi’ Event Scaled Down Due to Inclement Weather in UAE Ahead of PM’s Visit
Dubai, 13th Feb. The eagerly awaited ‘Ahlan Modi’ community event scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi has been downsized due to adverse weather conditions in the UAE, an official involved in the preparations revealed on Monday.
Community leader Sajeev Purushothaman informed PTI that while preparations were proceeding smoothly for one of the largest expatriate gatherings of Prime Minister Modi at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the participation had to be scaled down from 80,000 to 35,000 due to the inclement weather. Initially, it was reported that 60,000 individuals had confirmed their attendance via a registration website set up for the event, which was intended for Indian-origin attendees.
According to Purushothaman, the event will now see between 35,000 to 40,000 attendees, including participants in cultural programs, with over 500 buses and more than 1000 volunteers deployed at the venue.
An Indian Embassy source in Abu Dhabi stated that approximately 45,000 individuals would be present at the public gathering, where the Prime Minister is scheduled to address the audience.
The UAE, home to over 3.5 million Indians forming a significant part of the Indian workforce in the Gulf, witnessed safety alerts and reduced speed limits on Monday morning due to heavy rainfall, hail, thunder, and lightning.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UAE, commencing on Tuesday, will also include the inauguration of a grand BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14.
The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu temple, located in Abu Mureikhah near Al Rahba, marks the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the UAE, occupying approximately 27 acres of land donated by the UAE government. With construction efforts ongoing since 2019, the temple is set to become the largest in the Gulf region, joining the three other Hindu temples situated in Dubai.
