Victoria, June 29: During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Seychelles, excitement is palpable among the Indian community in Victoria as they prepare for his visit to the Navshakti Vinayakar Temple. Community members expressed their eagerness to welcome him on Monday, coinciding with Seychelles’ 50th Independence Day celebrations.
Many in the Indian community shared their enthusiasm with news agencies, noting that extensive preparations have been made for the Prime Minister’s visit. One community member stated, “We are thrilled that PM Modi is coming here for our 50th Independence Day. Everything is in place. We will pray for his long life at the temple and hope he continues to serve the people of India. We have also organized a cultural program to welcome him.”
Another community member, Shashi, expressed, “The Indian community in Seychelles is very excited about PM Modi’s visit. We are happy to welcome him. There are strong bilateral ties between India and Seychelles, and we hope to strengthen this relationship during his visit.”
Dhanalakshmi, another community member, mentioned feeling honored by the Prime Minister’s visit. She said, “I work on several initiatives with the government. We also hope that considering the strong bilateral relations between India and Seychelles, the Indian government will assist in developing the temple’s infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, Seychelles’ National Day celebrations commenced with a parade, where PM Modi was the chief guest. Seychelles’ soldiers parachuted into the venue with the national flag, as people joyfully celebrated the 50th anniversary of their independence. PM Modi arrived in Seychelles on the invitation of President Dr. Patrick Herminie.
On social media platform X, PM Modi expressed, “I feel honored to participate in Seychelles’ National Day celebrations on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence. This event is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the remarkable journey of the Seychellois people over the past fifty years.”
He added, “India takes pride in standing as a reliable friend and partner in Seychelles’ development journey. Our partnership is growing stronger, rooted in shared values and close ties between our peoples. I am confident that our friendship will continue to flourish in the future.”
The celebration featured the presence of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam. PM Modi was honored with Seychelles’ highest award, the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon,’ for his leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Seychelles share a long-standing partnership based on historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties. As a key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean region, Seychelles holds a special place in India’s vision for mutual and comprehensive progress in security and development across the region, as well as in our commitment to the Global South.
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