UAE offers unwavering support to Kerala

Abu Dhabi - Lauding the lasting bond between the UAE and India, Sheikh Nahyan said, "We are friends who care about one another."

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, has assured UAE's unwavering commitment to Kerala and its rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the floods in August.
"The effects of the flood on Keralites is a tragedy to be mitigated, and more importantly to be recovered from. We support you in your efforts and lend our eternal support to your citizens," said the minister. He was speaking at a public meeting at the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC), which was attended by the visiting Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Lauding the Keralite community as vital to the UAE's economy and society, the minister said "the people of Kerala are in our heart".
"Like true friends, we are happy to stand by you at good times and at bad times.
"As the Minister of Tolerance, I know that compassion is a tremendously important characteristic of tolerance. It empowers human beings to love and care for others. Other characteristics of compassion include resilience and team work. I am confident that the resilience and team work of the Kerala diaspora will help rebuild the state."
Reiterating on the lasting bond between the UAE and India, Sheikh Nahyan said, "We are friends who care about one another."
Earlier on the same day, Vijayan had a lunch meeting with Sheikh Nahyan at his palace in Abu Dhabi, and briefed Sheikh Nahyan regarding his government's various initiatives to rebuild Kerala.
Addressing the more than 2,500-strong crowd at ISC, Vijayan said he offers a "big salute" to the UAE leadership for their wholehearted support in the aftermath of the floods.
"The kind of support we received from the UAE is worth more than 100 million dollars. I cannot thank them enough."
Calling on all the Kerala diaspora to take part in the 'salary challenge' in helping rebuild the state, Vijayan said: "We should not let our state crumble. If we stand together, this won't happen. Let us stand by Kerala and stand together at this hour of need."
"This is not just for us. This is also for our children and our future generation. They should not blame us that we did not do enough for our state."
The CM also expressed his disappointment at the India government's stand in not accepting foreign aid in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the state. "There are many countries like the UAE that would have wholeheartedly come forward and helped us. I can tell you that it would have meant a big amount for our state. But for reasons that we don't understand, the Centre denied help."
The CM said under the current norms, the state government can only ask for Rs40 billion from the centre. "That too we can only ask." The estimated amount needed for rebuilding of the flood-battered state is about Rs260 billion.
Dr K. Elangovan, principal secretary, who is accompanying the chief minister, gave a detailed presentation highlighting various investment opportunities in the state.
The chief minister also visited Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of Zayed Charitable & Humanitarian Foundation, and invited him to visit Kerala. On his part, Sheikh Nahyan has accepted the invitation and has promised to visit Kerala in near future.
The chief minister will proceed to Dubai today, where he will interact with prominent businessmen and address the Indian community at a public meeting at 8pm at Al Nasr Leisure Land in Dubai.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi