New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two day visits to the United Arab Emirates sparked a war of words between people of Indian and Pakistani origin in the Gulf country in cyberspace.
The reason seems to be the welcome accorded to Modi who arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and his visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, also on Sunday. Modi was welcomed by the Crown prince and his five brothers in a rare gesture. The visit was the first by an Indian prime minister in 34 years.
Indians number 2.6 million in the UAE while Pakistanis number about 1.6 million.
Sample this:
Akshay Prabhu: Bro u are absolutely jealous UAE a Muslim world is welcoming him... I can understand ur pain (sic)—said one comment on the Facebook page of the Khaleej Times newspaper.
This was in response to a person called Ali Khan—thought to be from Pakistan—describing Modi as a “terrorist” known all over the world.
Another example of the two groups crossing swords came below a video posted by Khaleej Times journalist Judin Bernard. The video showed a large number of Indians outside the Dubai cricket stadium trying to get in.
Muhammad Tariq Majeed posted this message: “Modi, The Killer of 2000 Innocent Muslim’s in Gujarat, India”(sic).
The response came from Sangeet Pillai: “Plz khaleej times also show scenes from inside dubai zoo where our poki bros are living (sic)”
Ties between India and Pakistan are not at their best right now. The two neighbours, who have fought four wars, three of them over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, are to start a dialogue this week i.e. 23-24 August—between their national security advisors.
The UAE has been a popular place for well to-do Pakistanis with many making Dubai their preferred destination. Former Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari had divided their time between Dubai and London since she left Pakistan in 1999. She returned to Pakistan in 2007 and was assassinated soon after.
Many papers in the UAE including the Khaleej Times and The National had front page stories of the Modi visit. But it seems that the Khaleej TImes had more extensive coverage with photos and videos of Modi on his second and key day in the UAE on Monday on its Facebook page than the The National had on its Facebook page.
And this seems to have provoked many Pakistanis with evidence showing up in comments.
Subin Kumal was one of those who seemed irritated with the wall-to-wall coverage that Modi was getting on the Khaleej Times Facebook page.
“really khaleej times? every moment of modi u r posting and making such a breaking news,” he asked. To which the response from Sangeet Pillai was “hey khaleej times, can u make some posts on what modi is wearing today for the show?our poki bros are too much excited to see his costume?"
Abraham Shenoy was all praise for the Khaleej Times.
It “ is doing great job..it has always don same wen it has to.. whatever country be it india, pakistan or nepal lanka or UK. For example all nationalities have shared condolences wen terrorists attacked schools or mosques and it had to post these news irrespective of country... Some people need to handle situations maturely.. guys these posts are helping a lot of people say close to 100,000 or more who had or have plans to visit cricket stadium today.. if u feel hurt cos u do not belong to India or u r against modi then wake up.. u speak so much against india or modi or whoever...try speaking same against ur boss in ur office.” #Source: The Live Mint
