New Delhi: Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth landed in New Delhi on Sunday morning to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi. The Mauritian PM was greeted at the airport by P Kumaran, the Officer on Special Duty (ER & DPA) division of the Ministry of External Affairs. The Ministry's official spokesperson posted on X, “Welcome to India! PM Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius arrives to a warm welcome in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. OSD (ER & DPA) P. Kumaran received PM Jugnauth at the airport. India and Mauritius enjoy historically special ties and close maritime partnership.”
Leaders from neighboring nations and the Indian Ocean region are gathering as distinguished guests at the oath-taking ceremony this evening. This event highlights India's commitment to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the 'SAGAR' initiative. Attending leaders include the heads of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal, and Bhutan. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and Vice President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif, arrived yesterday, with the remaining leaders arriving today.
Narendra Modi will be sworn in as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term today at 7:15 pm. Mauritius PM Jugnauth previously congratulated PM Modi on his "laudable victory for a historic third term," expressing on X, “Congratulations Prime Minister Modi Ji @narendramodi on your laudable victory for a historic third term.” He added that under PM Modi's leadership, India will continue to grow and achieve remarkable progress. “Long live the Mauritius-India special relationship,” Jugnauth said.
India and Mauritius share close, longstanding ties, with people of Indian origin comprising nearly 70% of Mauritius’s population of 1.2 million (28% Creole, 3% Sino-Mauritian, 1% Franco-Mauritian). India’s development partnership with Mauritius and the Global South aligns with the priorities of receiving countries under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.
In March, President Droupadi Murmu visited Mauritius, where she was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law by the University of Mauritius, recognizing the profound depth of the bilateral relationship. During her visit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra emphasized Mauritius's importance in India's neighborhood policy, stating that the India-Mauritius partnership is based on Mauritian priorities and PM Modi's vision of SAGAR.
In 2015, PM Modi visited Mauritius as part of a three-nation tour of Indian Ocean countries, after a stop in Seychelles. He was warmly welcomed by then Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth and served as the chief guest at Mauritius's 47th National Day.
Alongside PM Modi, members of his council of ministers will also take their oaths today.
Shashi Tharoor Criticizes Lack of Invitation to Pakistan for Modi's Swearing-In
Modi Cabinet 3.0: Key Leaders to Join New Government
Will all 99 Congress MPs be disqualified? Allegations of bribery on Khatakhat scheme