The Indian push: Pravind to invite Modi for 50th independence day

Kazi Mahmood

Jan 13, 2018 • 1 min read

*India is a close ally of the Mauritius Republic and Modi is seen increasingly pulling Mauritius towards the Indian geopolitical sphere*

Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth intends to invite Indian PM Narendra Modi as chief guest for the 50th Independence Day of our country.

The decision was announced by vice president Paramasivum Pillay in India on Friday. This will be Modi’s second visit to Mauritius if he accepts the invitation.

Our source in New Delhi did not relay the news of Modi’s invitation and has so far said it is a Mauritian initiative to boost the image of the flagging MSM-ML regime headed by Pravind, the son of Sir Aneerood Jugnauth.

The relationship between India and Mauritius boosted after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited the country. There was a collaboration in the education sector after which JSS institute set up educational institutions there, he said.

Pillay said that 50 per cent of the 1.3 million population in the country is of Indian origin, including himself, and holds an Overseas Indian Citizen card. However, the latest population survey indicates the Hindu population is below 50%.

India has played a major economic role in Mauritius with its investment in several sectors, the most prominent being the construction of the controversial Light Rail Transit.

The construction, which started last year, was the cause of a massive backlash against the Pravind Jugnauth regime but the latter is hoping that the final built-up of the train system will showcase the capacity of his weakening regime in building the country.

This they hope will boost the government’s credibility.

If Modi were to accept the invitation, the MSM-ML regime is hoping that this will boost the regime’s image among the Hindu population.

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