Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday embarked on a visit to Bahrain-his first foreign trip after taking over as the party head. Gandhi met the Gulf country’s Prime Minister Prince Salman bi Hamas Al-Khalifa, after which he addressed the Indian Diaspora at a convention. Gandhi who is the state guest of Bahrain while addressing the Indian diaspora said,”I am here to tell you what you mean to our country, that you’re important, to tell you there is a serious problem at home, to tell you that you’re part of the solution and that I am here to build a bridge between wherever you are in the world and home.”
Giving the cause of the problem, the Congress president said,”Job creation is at an eight-year low. Instead of focusing on removal of poverty, job creating and world class education system, we see instead rise in forces of hate and division.” “Instead of accepting that we are struggling to create jobs, instead of uniting people of all religions and communities together to face the challenge, the govt is busy converting the fear being generated in jobless youth into hatred between communities,” he added.
Gandhi went on to say that the talent of the Indian diaspora’s talent, skills, tolerance, patriotism is what India needs today. “You have shown us how you have built the countries you have journeyed to,” he added.
Talking about Congress’ impressive performance at the Gujarat elections, Gandhi said that Gujarat is BJP’s bastion and the saffron party just managed to win there.
According to a statement issued by the Congress, Gandhi is the chief guest at the valedictory session of a function organised by Global Organisation of People of India Origin (GOPIO) in Bahrain.
Delegates from 50 countries are participating in the function, the statement said.He will also have an interactive session with business leaders of the Indian origin on Wednesday.
“NRIs are the true representatives of our soft power and the brand ambassadors of our nation across the globe. Looking forward to meeting and addressing fellow countrymen in Bahrain tomorrow,” Gandhi tweeted ahead of his trip. Gandhi is expected to return to India on January 9.