The Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, inaugurated the Ashoka Stambh to mark the 73rd Republic Day of India, this evening, at the High Commission of India, in Ebène. The pillar was presented to the Embassy by Laxmanbhai & Co (Mauritius) Ltd.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo; the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun; the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government, Disaster and Risk Management, Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo; the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo; the High Commissioner of India, Mrs K. Nandini Singla; the spouse of late Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Lady Sarojini Jugnauth; members of the Diplomatic Corps and other personalities were present on the occasion.
In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted the contribution of the High Commission of India in forging closer bonds between the two nations and further strengthening India-Mauritius bilateral cooperation through the commemoration of India’s 73rd Republic Day and the installation of the Ashoka Stambh at the High Commission.
Mr Jugnauth recalled that over the years, India played a key role in the social and economic development of Mauritius and the brotherly relations between the two countries led to greater cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development. “A number of projects have been jointly undertaken as well, such as the setting up of the New ENT Hospital, the New Supreme Court, the Metro Express, the recent joint e-inauguration of Social Housing Units in Mare Tabac and Dagotière, the forthcoming new Civil Service College and the setting up of 8MW photovoltaic solar farms in Henrietta,” he added.
The Prime Minister also spoke of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) that was signed in February last year, adding that it represented an important milestone in the trade and economic relationship between the two countries and also opened up new opportunities for joint ventures on the African continent.
Speaking of the Ashoka Stambh, Prime Minister Jugnauth emphasised that it was most appropriate to choose the Republic Day of India for the inauguration of the replica of Ashoka Stambh as it was adopted as an emblem of India on its first Republic Day. “The Stambh,” he stressed, “has ever since held a special place in the life of the Indian nation as it symbolises the fourth truth of the Buddha, and conveys the message of compassion and wisdom which serves as a guidance, not only to the people of India, but also to humanity at large.”
For her part, the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius commended the Government for having successfully handled these challenging times of COVID-19 pandemic so as to enable the population to go about their daily lives and managed to become one of the few proud countries in the world to have vaccinated three-quarters of its population.
Mrs Singla emphasised that despite COVID-19, the bilateral and political engagement continued and grew even closer through areas of cooperation. These include: the gift of 200 oxygen concentrators by Mauritius; honouring late Sir Anerood Jugnauth’s memory with the Padma Vibushan award; the visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, to Mauritius in February 2021; the signing of the CECPA; a USD 100 Million Line of Credit for defence procurement; and an additional USD 500 Million Line of Credit for new projects.
“The inauguration of the High Commission building, the inauguration of the Rose-Hill-Quatre-Bornes segment of the Metro Express project, the completion of the refit of the Mauritian Coast Guard Ship Barracuda, and the handing over of a leased Dornier Aircraft to Mauritius from India, among others, are also testimony to our robust development partnership,” she underlined.
Furthermore, she indicated that the Ashoka Stambh epitomised foundational values that defined the very essence of India, such as peace, shared prosperity and universal brotherhood. “This iconic pillar here,” Mrs Singla underscored, “will ensure that we are always guided in our work by these timeless values and will act as an eternal reminder that even as India claims its rightful place in the world, it will always remain a force for peace, harmony and shared wellbeing.”
