Indians anticipate a change in 2019

Upbeat onlookers of Rahul Gandhi's visit to the UAE reveal their sentiments and goodwill leading up to his maiden visit in the new millennium. | Melissa Randhawa

Prasad Amlani | Banker
General Elections are just around the corner in India and when you hear a special visit to UAE by a president of one of the oldest parties of India especially coming to address and share his parties' agenda and where he thinks his party will take India to new heights certainly gives a lot of comfort and also gives a strong message about the power of NRIs in the Middle East. A mass affluent population of 2.62 million Indian expats living in the UAE far away from the home country to live their dreams, and to know someone as powerful as Rahul Gandhi is coming to share and express his ideas, his vision and what ideology the party has in order to take India as a next superpower, gives immense positivity for a huge change. This is a very strong and bold step taken by the party to showcase that they are not only concerned about resident Indians but also people who are residing outside India. UAE has always been one of the preferred locations for any Indian who wishes to reside here because of the warmth, diversity, equality and freedom, and to come and address the people of the UAE is a really good initiative. I am excited to know what Rahul Gandhi has to say once he is here and I want to wish him and the Congress party all the best for the upcoming elections.

Anurag Malhotra | Radio Presenter
In my humble opinion, it's a good sign that more politicians are visiting the UAE to engage with the NRI diaspora here. I think politics has become super competitive back home and politicians do not wish to leave any stone unturned to add numbers to their voters, with NRI voting supposedly on the anvil in the near future. Rahul Gandhi has taken a cue from PM Narendra Modi and is here to garner support for the upcoming elections. The NRI diaspora is certainly important as it contributes in a significant way through monetary remittances to India's nation-building. However, to expect that such visits will lead to the the collective growth of India is premature. The taste of the pudding is in the eating. Let's wait and watch, if our politicians put their money where their mouth is.

Shabnam Suboohi | Teacher
Rahul Gandhi, a young politician and president of the Congress party who hails from an affluent Nehru Gandhi family and took to centrestage after winning the three heartlands states of India is in a festive and innovative mood. Keeping the pre-poll promises from loan waiving to development makes him a potential prime minister of India, where half of the children are malnourished, and many youth are unemployed. Facing the government of false promises with dignity and hard work makes him a role model for the Indian population who are looking for better opportunities and outcome. We, as expats, are looking forward to his UAE visit. We want a leader to lead India into the 21st century with love, respect, tolerance and innovation.

Sania Attarwala | Business Development Assistant
India is not very different from the UAE, considering the love for its traditions and the multi-cultural societies that reside within its metropolitan cities. However, we need to learn from a country like the UAE to help remove poverty and provide more security in every way. I think the visit of leaders like Rahul Gandhi in a way helps them to connect with their people and learn what holds these NRIs in the UAE. I hope this visit of his inspires him to make the required amendments in the Indian Laws and Regulations. I then see a better India which we've been promised for centuries.

Hisham Abbas | Community Manager
Rahul Gandhi is hope, and a change India needs desperately. I admire him on how he has bounced back to the political scene by being a game changer from almost being written off. I wish him all the very best to bring back our country to the path of development, job creation, the betterment of farmers and weaker sections of society and most importantly secular by being tolerant to one another which makes our country great.
Wishing him all the very best to take forward the message of Mahatma Gandhi for tolerance and where else can he start this journey from a country who dedicates a year as #YearOfTolerance. Looking forward to hearing him this Friday.

Arshad Khan | Actor
I think it's a great move to reach out to the Indians living abroad, being away from our own land, we at times feel uninformed. This momentous visit by Rahul Gandhi to the UAE is an unforgettable gesture to begin the year 2019. This is the best way to involve Indians and hear from them. It is an excellent testament to the leadership of the UAE to welcome leaders from our homeland to address the Indian community living in the UAE. It provides reassurance to the great ties upheld by these two progressive and powerful nations. I'm looking forward to welcome our finest leader Rahul Gandhi to the UAE, our second home and excited about the positive outcome of this visit.

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