Muscat: A record 30,000 Indians from all walks of life attended Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at a government-owned multi-purpose stadium in the Boshar district of Muscat on Sunday, hours after his arrival on his first state visit to the Sultanate. The audience was also treated to traditional Indian dance performances. Waving both Indian and Omani flags, Indian community members were overcome by patriotic fervour.
Modi landed in the country in the afternoon on the last leg of his tour of three countries in the Middle East. He was received by Omani Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Said, and other ministers and senior officials. During his visit, Modi will hold talks with Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed and other key leaders.
Addressing the crowd, Modi said, “Our country’s power is exemplary and rich in diversity. My address in different languages will take a long time to finish, owing to the diversity of our languages. I’m addressing a mini India right in front of me. Brothers and sisters, I have been eagerly waiting to meet you all in the Omani capital. Our association with Oman dates back a very long time. I will be meeting soon with His Majesty [Sultan Qaboos], who has had a longstanding relationship with our nation.”
Branding Oman as a close maritime neighbour, Modi earlier said: “I shall also interact with leading businesspersons of Oman on developing stronger economic and business links with India.”
The India-Oman association dates back to Indus Valley civilisation (during the Bronze Age). Oman also enjoys close ties with India in all fields. India and Oman have thriving links rooted in centuries old people-to-people exchanges, Modi said.
There are more than nine million Indians in the Gulf region. In Oman, they constitute the largest expatriate community.
Indo-Omani defence co-operation has emerged as a key pillar of the bilateral strategic engagement. The bilateral defence cooperation, characterised by joint military
exercises and regular exchange of visits, has been growing. Oman is the sole country in the Middle East to conduct biennial, bilateral army, navy and air force exercises with India. India and Oman have been cooperating on security matters, including counter-terrorism. The Sultanate also provides Operational Turnaround (OTR) for Indian ships.
During his visit, Indian prime minister will meet Sultan Qaboos at Bait Al Barakah Royal Palace for a special dinner. The two leaders will review bilateral cooperation between the two countries, identify new areas of cooperation and exchange views on regional situation in South Asia and West Asia region, including the Gulf region, along with global issues of mutual interest.
Earlier, the Indian Express reported that Sultan Qaboos was once a student of Shankar Dayal Sharma in Pune, India. Sharma went on to become the President of India.
