Modi looks to future with inauguration of temple and AI address
▶ Indian leader recites prayers at site set to open to public on Sunday
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday inaugurated the Baps Hindu Mandir, before the site opens to the public on Sunday.
He was given a guided tour of the place of worship by priests from the Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha, the group that built the Dh350 million ($95 million) temple.
As thousands of Hindus watched on, Mr Modi added water from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers to the waterways that frame the temple and recited prayers.
“A grand and impressive temple is ready,” he said. “It has taken years of work and there are years of dreams behind the building of this temple.”
He said “no praise will be enough” to thank the UAE government for allowing the project to be built.
“The biggest support and the most help was given by my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,” Mr Modi said.
“The President of the UAE, with his large heart, has fulfilled the dreams of millions of Indians. He has won the hearts of 1.4 billion Indians with this temple.”
It was constructed using traditional methods and features hand-carved sculptures. The temple will be open to the public from Sunday, but authorities have asked residents in the UAE to visit from March 1 with thousands of overseas visitors expected to travel to view the temple.
A week-long celebration will begin at the site on Thursday, with prayers and discussions on harmony and peace set to take place.
Mr Modi visited the temple after attending the World Governments Summit in Dubai, where he called for a “global protocol” to be established to deal with artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.
In an address on the summit’s final day, he said a united platform for governments was needed to tackle the risks of further, rapid advances in technology.
His comments came a day after Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI – the company behind ChatGPT – pushed for a global AI watchdog system to monitor what happens with the most powerful AI systems. “Developing a global protocol can deal with the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency,” Mr Modi said.
“We must listen to the voices of the Global South, highlight their priorities and share our resources and capabilities with countries in need.
“By following these principles, not only can we resolve the challenges facing our governments, but also strengthen universal brotherhood.
“It is this very spirit that we promoted during our G20 presidency. We move forward with the motto: ‘One earth, one family, one future’.”
Mr Modi said that solutions that emerge at the summit “will shape the world’s future”.
His arrival at the summit yesterday was part of his seventh visit to the UAE in his decade as Prime Minister.
He also addressed thousands of Indian citizens at an event in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
India is set to go to the polls in April or May, with Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party aiming to secure a third term in power.
“I believe people should not feel the absence of a government but, at the same time, nor should there be pressure from the government,” he said.
“We are sensitive to the needs of our country and have focus on fulfilling those needs.”
The Indian Prime Minister says ‘no praise will be high enough’ to thank the UAE for allowing the project to be built