Modi thanks Uganda for hosting Indian community
Kampala, July 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked the Ugandan people and government for providing home to the Indian-origin community after the troubles in the past in the East African country.
"There were troubled times in the past but the Ugandan government and people did not let you leave," Modi said while addressing an Indian community event here on Tuesday night.
He expressed his gratitude to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who was also present, in this context
In early August 1972, then President of Uganda Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of his country's Asian minority, giving them 90 days to leave the country.
At the time of the expulsion, there were approximately 80,000 individuals of South Asian descent, most of whom were Gujaratis.
Speaking at the event, Yoseveni addressed the Indian community as "my Indian tribe" and appreciated its contributions to Uganda's development.
"Many of my Indian tribe left Uganda in 1972," he said. "This time they would have been 200,000." There are around 30,000 persons of Indian origin in Uganda today.
Yoseveni lauded the contributions of the Indian community in his country saying they have made their mark in its economic and business landscape.
"You have been able to create employment and expand the tax base of the government," he said.
Reminding the 10,000-strong gathering of their Indian roots, the Indian Prime Minister said: "You might not have remembered from where you must have come from India, but you have India in your hearts."
Modi arrived here earlier on Tuesday from Rwanda on the second leg of his five-day, three-nation tour of Africa that will also take him to South Africa.
This is the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to Uganda in over 20 years.
For Modi, this is his second visit to this East African nation after his visit in 2007 as Gujarat Chief Minister.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Fan tries to die by suicide over Nikhil Kumaraswamy's bypoll loss
Bengaluru: Channapatna JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who lost the byelection to C.P. Yogeshwar of Congress, on Sunday consoled a fan who reportedly attempted to end his life and requested him not to repeat such acts.
Manjunath, fondly called Abhi, had even penned a letter before taking the dangerous step. Nikhil, who called on Manjunath at the latter’s home in Kudloor in Channapatna, expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy reassured Manjunath, expressing his support during the difficult time. He told him that he was deeply troubled to learn of this incident and emphasised that he would stand by him. Nikhil also promised to offer assistance in any way he could, including helping him secure employment opportunities in the future, as reported by the Deccan Herald.
He also reminded Manjunath of the importance of his children’s well-being, urging him to focus on their future. “Please, look at the faces of your growing children. Even I have a three-year-old son. The children are young, let us take care of their future also. I will arrange some job opportunities for you. I might not be an MLA but this is a challenge. I will get you employed,” he said.
Nikhil told media persons that he is extremely hurt more by Manjunath’s attempt to die than by his loss in the election. “At 7:30 a.m., we got a message that in Valetoopu, Manjunath had consumed poison yesterday. In Channapatna, our workers and leaders have built this party with zeal. Let the admiration be there in your hearts but if it crosses the line, your families get hurt and we get very pained by it,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.
Speaking of his byelection loss, Nikhil reiterated that the JD(S) had got its traditional votes, but that the votes of a particular community went against the party.
“Deve Gowda gave reservation to a community. We tried our last attempt to take that community into confidence. But they conveyed to us that they do not require us. In future, we will take other communities into confidence,” he remarked in a veiled reference to Muslims.
Nikhil lost the election by a margin of 25,413 votes to Congress candidate C.P. Yogeshwar.
