Dubai: Kerala businessman Dr. PA Ibrahim Haji, Co-Chairman Malabar Group and Chairman PACE Group on Monday was awarded with the UAE’s 10-year permanent residency Golden card. Dr. Ibrahim Haji received his Golden card by Lieutenant Colonel Omar Matar Khamis Al Mezaina, Director of Establishment Department, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai.

Dr. Ibrahim joins the list of around 400 outstanding expatriates, including business leaders who have received the Golden card since the UAE government introduced the permanent residency earlier this year.

Doctors, investors, specialists and students (those with a grade of 95 per cent and above in general secondary and university students with a grade of 3.75 and above. Executive managers with a monthly salary of Dh30,000 and above are also eligible for the long-term visa.

"Granting the 10-year visa is a great initiative by the Government of UAE. This step is in fulfillment of the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make UAE one of the most investor friendly countries in the world. It has benefited not only the investor residents of UAE but also this is an attraction for more and more businessmen from all over the world to live and establish themselves in UAE. This will also contribute not only to the economic development of this country but also technological advancement and scientific research with the advent of the skilled new generation," the company said in a statement.

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Cooch Behar (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has insulted novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankim da".

Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district, Banerjee said the PM was not even born when the country achieved Independence and yet chose to address one of Bengal's greatest cultural icons casually.

"You did not even show him the minimum respect he deserves. You should apologise for this, to the nation," she said.

The flashpoint was PM's reference to the author during a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, written by Chattopadhyay.

TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to the use of the suffix 'da' and urged the PM to say 'Bankim babu' instead.

Modi immediately accepted the sentiment, saying, "I will say Bankim 'babu'. Thank you, I respect your sentiments," and asked in a lighter vein whether he could still address Roy as 'dada'.

Targeting the BJP, Banerjee claimed that it will destroy Bengal's culture, language and heritage if it comes to power in the state.

She also claimed that the assembly elections in the state will be declared soon after publication of the final electoral rolls following the SIR exercise, so that no one can challenge it in court.