India announces State mourning: Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth to convey condolences

June 4, 2021

 India announced State mourning on June 5, 2021 across the country as a mark of respect to Sir Anerood Jugnauth, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s telephone call to Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth this afternoon to express his condolences.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth over the telephone this afternoon and said that entire India joined him in grieving the sad demise of Sir Anerood Jugnauth. He conveyed his condolences to Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Lady Sarojini Jugnauth, and the entire Jugnauth family for their bereavement. He noted that with Sir Jugnauth’s passing away, Mauritius had lost a father figure; India had lost a very close and trusted friend; and the world had lost a very far-sighted and visionary statesman.

Prime Minister Modi said that he was honoured to have had a deep personal connection with Sir Anerood Jugnauth spanning over 30 years. He recounted their long conversations during several past meetings and said that he was always deeply impressed by Sir Jugnauth’s experience and wisdom. He lauded Sir Jugnauth’s commitment to the development of Mauritius as well as his deep faith in the India-Mauritius relationship.

Prime Minister Modi recalled that Sir Jugnauth not only had a bold vision, but also the capability and the drive to turn it into a reality. He credited Sir Jugnauth with having been the architect of the “Mauritian economic miracle” that catapulted Mauritius into a High Income Country in less than 50 years, a commendable accomplishment that is now an inspiring example and role model for the rest of Africa and the entire world. He said thatSir Jugnauth had left an indelible mark on the special friendship between India and Mauritius and said that the contours of the wide-ranging strategic, socio-economic and developmentalpartnership between India and Mauritius today were inspired in large part, by Sir Jugnauth. Prime Minister Modi highlighted how Sir Jugnauth was a proud ‘PravasiBhartiya’ who valued the importance of the shared cultural heritage between the two countries and said that Sir Jugnauth had made many friends among the Indian political leadership during his long political career, garnering deep respect across party lines in India. He expressed satisfaction over the fact that during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Sir Anerood Jugnauth was invited as the Chief Guest of India’s very first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2003 and became the first PravasiBharatiyaSamman Awardee.He expressed happiness that India recognized Sir Jugnauth’ssignal contribution to the India-Mauritius relationship, by honouring himwith the prestigiousPadma VibhushanAward last year. Prime Minister reiterated that Sir Anerood Jugnauth had laid a strong foundation of friendship and cooperation between India and Mauritius and expressed happiness that there was continuous progress in the friendly relations under the able leadership of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth. To keep Sir AneroodJugnauth’s legacy alive, Prime Minister Modi affirmed that India would continue to work closely with the government of Mauritius to advance Sir Jugnauth’s vision and ideals.

Prime MinisterModi prayed that the Almighty gives strength tothe Jugnauthfamily and all Mauritians to cope with this loss.

Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth thanked Prime Minister Modi for his call and expression of sympathies and consideration for him and his family as well as for Mauritius. He agreed that Mauritius had indeed lost a father figure for the country and a great architect of the India-Mauritius relationship. Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth shared how until his last days, Sir Anerood Jugnauth continued to closely follow developments in India and highly valued Mauritius’ relationship with India. He assured Prime Minister Modi of his continued support for strengthening India-Mauritius ties. He expressed sympathy and solidarity with India during this challenging time when India is facing the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as cyclones and floods, and wished Prime Minister Modi strength in overcoming them.

Prime Minister Modi concluded by mentioning how proud the people of India were of having earned a friend such as Sir Anerood Jugnauth, who had immense love for India and how saddened they are to have lost him.

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