Mauritius PM to visit Varanasi next week, to hold bilateral meeting with PM Modi

Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will visit India from September 9–16, including Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mumbai, and Tirupati, with a key bilateral meeting scheduled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 11.

New Delhi: Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam is set to visit the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from September 10 to 12, a senior district administration official said.

On September 11, he will travel to New Delhi for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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“Ramgoolam will also attend the Ganga Aarti on September 11. On September 12, he will offer prayers at Baba Kashi Vishwanath temple and then visit Ayodhya,” Varanasi Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam said on Saturday.

“PM Modi will reach Varanasi on September 11. After meeting his Mauritian counterpart, PM Modi will return to Delhi,” he added.

The Union Ministry of External Affairs said in a press statement, “Prime Minister of Mauritius Navinchandra Ramgoolam will undertake a state visit to India from September 9 to September 16. This will be the first overseas bilateral visit of Prime Minister Ramgoolam to India in his present term.”

Ramgoolam had earlier visited India in May 2014.

During the upcoming visit, he will also travel to Mumbai and Tirupati. In Mumbai, he will attend a business event.

At a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on September 5, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recalled Ramgoolam’s 2014 visit to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi.

Last month, Ramgoolam wished PM Modi and the people of India on Independence Day. He said Mauritius celebrates the values of freedom, democracy, and unity that India has upheld since 1947, emphasising that the bond between the two nations is rooted in history and culture.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on this auspicious occasion of India’s Independence Day, I extend my warmest wishes to the Government and people of India. As we commemorate this historic day, we celebrate the values of freedom, democracy, and unity that India has so valiantly upheld since 1947. The bonds between Mauritius and India are rooted in history, culture, and ties that continue to inspire cooperation, friendship, and mutual respect between our nations. May India continue to flourish in peace, prosperity, and progress, guiding the world with its example of resilience and vision. Happy Independence Day, India!” Ramgoolam said in a post on X.

PM Modi thanked his counterpart and called Mauritius India’s “strategic and trusted partner” in the shared pursuit of progress, prosperity, and a bright future for the people of both nations.

“Deeply appreciate your warm wishes, Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, on the occasion of our Independence Day. Mauritius will always remain a strategic and trusted partner in our shared pursuit of progress, prosperity, and a bright future for our peoples,” PM Modi posted on X.

Earlier this year, PM Modi was on a two-day state visit to Mauritius at the invitation of Ramgoolam to attend the 57th National Day celebrations of Mauritius. During the visit, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with Ramgoolam and Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool.

India has “close and longstanding relations” with Mauritius, anchored in shared history, demography, and culture, according to a statement from the Indian High Commission in Mauritius. Mauritius was one of the first countries with which independent India established diplomatic relations in 1948, even before Mauritius gained independence. The relationship has been characterised by a high level of trust and mutual understanding at the leadership level, along with continued high-level political engagement.