Indian expats in Dubai cheer Modi’s swearing in

Dubai, May 31 (IANS) At a live screening in Dubai’s India Club that broadcast Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing in ceremony, a group of Indian expats cheered as he took oath for a second term in office.

Decked in traditional clothes, community members were invited to watch the live streaming of the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday. Consul-General of India to Dubai Vipul was also present.

Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the event, Vipul said: "We are very happy that the swearing-in ceremony has been organised. It is the culmination of a long electoral process, and it highlighted the strength of Indian democracy. A lot of people are here at India Club to celebrate Indian democracy.

"The new government will take over, and with this, we are very excited for the India-United Arab Emirates (UAE) relationships. In the last five years, the Indian economy has done well. On the developmental side, significant achievements were made as well."

The group even got a giant Indian flag to the gathering and waved it at regular intervals.

Some rushed to the venue immediately after their work hours. Seven Dubai Taxi drivers arrived at India Club immediately after their duty hours ended, to witness the ceremony.

Rajesh Chulliparambil, a driver, said: "We are very excited about Modi’s re-election. He is the common man’s leader, and he will take India into the next century."

Another driver, K.A. Unnikrishnan called Modi "a great leader" and that India "was truly developing with his help".

Ramesh Mannath, the Dubai President of Indian Peoples Forum, told the Khaleej Times: "As an expatriate, in the next five years, I expect them to make NRI voting possible and higher education fees for NRIs more affordable or the same as Indian students.

"We are still pushing to get the human remains repatriation to be processed for free as well."

Modi and his 57-member council of ministers were sworn in by President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.