The award will be “in recognition of the distinguished leadership of Prime Minister Modi for giving a big boost to bilateral relations between the two countries”.
The award will be “in recognition of the distinguished leadership of Prime Minister Modi for giving a big boost to bilateral relations between the two countries”.
Indian Prime Minister Modi is set to travel to the Arabian Gulf for three days, where he will be arriving first to the UAE on Friday the 23rd. Upon his arrival in the UAE, Prime Minister Modi is set to receive the UAE’s highest civilian honor, the Order of Zayed, and meet with the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed for friendly bilateral talks.
India’s external affairs ministry released a statement on Prime Minster Modi’s award from the UAE, stating it was “in recognition of the distinguished leadership of Prime Minister Modi for giving a big boost to bilateral relations between the two countries”.
This controversial award comes amidst India’s brutal crackdown in Kashmir, where the revocation of Article 370, which gave Muslim-majority Kashmir semi-autonomous powers, spurred mass protests and a severe crackdown from Indian state forces within the state of Kashmir.
India revokes Kashmir’s special status and puts region on lockdown
Reports are stating that more than 300 protests have since erupted, with at least 4,000 Kashmiris so far arrested. Many politicians within Kashmir were held under house arrest in the days following the revocation of the Article, and Indian state forces have used tear gas, pellets, and rubber bullets to harm protests on the streets of Kashmir.
The UAE, along with many other Arab states, have remained tellingly quiet amidst the brutal crackdown on mainly Muslim Kashmiris by the Indian state. The UAE’s Ambassador to India, Ahmed al-Banna, stated that India’s control over Kashmir “would improve social justice and security… and further stability and peace”.
As for now, as Modi prepares for his visit to the UAE, the plight of the Kashmiri people continues as Indian state forces continue to suppress any legitimate call for human dignity from the people of Kashmir.
