India needs you: Rahul Gandhi tells NRI students in Dubai

News Network

January 12, 2019

Dubai, Jan 12: Indian students studying in the UAE will have an increasingly important role to play in shaping the future of India, according to Rahul Gandhi, present of All India Congress Committee.

Interacting with the students at the Institute of Management Technology Dubai on Saturday, the second day of his two-day visit to the UAE, Gandhi said NRI (Non-Resident Indian) students’ knowledge and understanding will serve the interests of India and be beneficial to the UAE as well.

“You’re NRIs… You have a role in India, and it's a role that will increase, not decrease,” he told students during an interactive session with them.

Gandhi said India will need the “help and service” from NRI graduates in solving job and agriculture “crises” in India. He added that India is currently suffering from “the highest rate of unemployment in over a decade… It's important that India accepts we have a job crisis and an agricultural crisis. These two have to be resolved and they will require your help and service”.

He added: “I'm very proud of what you do and I know you will serve India and the UAE very effectively.”

Another main challenge facing India is the “intolerance that is visible today in India… We don't like an India that is divided… where people are beaten up and killed for what they say; where journalists are shot. That's the real challenge in the next election and a large number to people aren't happy with what's going on”.

The interactive session saw Gandhi take a variety of questions from students on healthcare, women's empowerment, industry, business, education, etc — and also pose a few questions of his own.

Gandhi asked various students questions such as what they would do as prime minister of India, where they would work and why, how can there be unity in diversity, how the Middle East is different from India, and others.

“I can ask tough questions,” Gandhi said in a light moment with students. He is scheduled to visit Abu Dhabi later on Saturday to meet business leaders.

On Friday, Gandhi had addressed tens of thousands of India expats at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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