Passage of 50 years has not changed our commitment to one another: PM Modi in Seychelles’ parliament

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Victoria, June 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the passage of 50 years of diplomatic relations has not changed the mutual commitment between India and Seychelles.

“This year offers a powerful reminder of the depth of our partnership. Fifty years ago, at the dawn of your independence, an Indian naval ship, INS Nilgiri, was present in Port Victoria as a mark of friendship and solidarity. And today, INS Tarkash and INS Ikshak are docked at Port Victoria to celebrate the Golden Jubilee with you. The passage of 50 years has changed many things, but it has not changed our commitment to one another,” PM Modi highlighted in his special address to the National Assembly of the Seychelles as part of his state visit to the archipelagic island.

He said that for decades, the defence forces, Coast Guards, and maritime agencies of both nations have trained and worked closely together and that India deeply values the professionalism and dedication of the Seychelles Defence Forces and the Seychelles Coast Guard.

“They play a vital role in safeguarding your own vast maritime domain as well as the wider Indian Ocean region (IOR),” he stressed.

According to him, the cooperation in maritime security, capacity building, hydrography, and maritime domain awareness reflects India and Seychelles’ shared commitment to a safer and more secure region.

“The prosperity of one contributes to the prosperity of the other. And the stability of the region benefits us all,” the Prime Minister noted during his address.It is a special honour to stand before you as the first Indian Prime Minister to address this National Assembly,”

“Our vision is captured in the idea of MAHASAGAR, or Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions. This vision recognises that our futures are interconnected and interdependent. And we will continue to work together for a safer and more secure Indian Ocean region,” he added.

At the commencement, he said that it was a “special honour to stand before you as the first Indian Prime Minister to address this National Assembly”.

He also noted that the first country in the Indian Ocean region that he visited as Prime Minister was Seychelles in 2015.

This is the 20th parliament which PM Modi has addressed. Soon after assuming office in 2014, he addressed the Parliaments of Bhutan, Nepal, Australia and Fiji.

The following year, he addressed the National Assembly of Mauritius, the Parliaments of Sri Lanka, Mongolia, the UK, and Afghanistan.

The journey continued with Prime Minister Modi’s address to the United States Congress in 2016, followed by a second address in 2023, making him the first Indian Prime Minister to address a Joint Session of the US Congress twice.

He also addressed the Parliaments of Uganda in 2018, the Maldives in 2019 and Guyana in 2024.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie met and reviewed the ‘remarkable’ progress achieved in the India-Seychelles partnership.

–IANS

ksk/vd

Related Posts

Nitish Kumar meets Samrat Choudhary at his residence in Patna, their first formal meeting after new govt formation

Patna, April 18 (IANS) A significant political development has emerged in Patna as former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met the incumbent Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday, for the first time since the formation of the new government in the state.

According to sources, Nitish Kumar arrived early in the morning at the Chief Minister’s residence at 5 Deshratna Marg, Patna, where the meeting lasted for approximately 20 minutes.

Visuals from the meeting showed Samrat Choudhary greeting the former CM warmly, while Nitish Kumar was seen placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

This interaction is being viewed as more than a routine courtesy call, with discussions reportedly covering the current political situation and governance-related matters.

It also served as a morale booster for the new Chief Minister.

Notably, Samrat Choudhary is currently residing at 5 Deshratna Marg and is expected to soon shift to the official CM residence at 1 Aney Marg.

This marks the first direct interaction between the two leaders after the new government in Bihar was formed.

Political observers see the meeting as a signal of continuity, coordination, and guidance in the new administration, especially given Nitish Kumar’s long tenure and influence.

The meeting comes amid heightened security concerns. Shortly after assuming office, CM Samrat Choudhary received a death threat, causing alarm within the administration.

Police have since arrested the accused, identified as Shekhar Yadav from Banka district, who was apprehended in Ahmedabad.

In response, security has been significantly tightened at the Chief Minister’s ancestral residence in Lakhanpur village, Munger.

The premises have effectively been turned into a high-security zone, with strict access control in place.

A team comprising one officer and five Constables has been deployed, and personnel are working in rotational shifts for 24×7 security. Entry is allowed only to family members and close relatives, while media and outsiders are not permitted inside the premises.

According to Tarapur DSP Sanket Kumar, these arrangements are purely precautionary, and further action will depend on directives from higher authorities.

–IANS

ajk/rad

Delhi to host ‘Nari to Narayani’ national dialogue on women’s role in nation-building

New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) A two-day national convention titled ‘Bharati – Nari se Narayani’, aimed at celebrating and strengthening the transformative journey of women from ‘Nari’ to ‘Narayani’, will be held in the national capital on March 7-8.

The convention is being jointly organised by Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Bharatiya Vidvat Parishat and Sharanya at Vigyan Bhawan.

Describing ‘Bharati’ as an ambitious project, the organisers said the core motto is to transform ‘Nari’ into a strategic and empowered ‘Narayani’. “This is our first-ever conference of this scale. We have invited Indian women leaders from diverse fields to deliberate on what more can be done for women across the country. Our approach is to connect, support and stand by women whenever they need collective strength,” they said.

Anju Ahuja, President, Sharanya and Seetha Gayatri Andanam, Pramukh Karyvahika Rahstriya Sevika Samiti, emphasised that the primary objective is to awaken and empower contemporary women.

“Our main objective is to awaken and empower the women of today. The situation in our country is such that almost every day we hear reports of injustice against women. While women are progressing, becoming self-respectful and self-reliant, there are still elements in society that attempt to push them backward,” Anju Ahuja said.

“We want to raise awareness among women to such an extent that nothing like this happens to the coming generations,” she added.

Seetha Gayatri Andanam informed that the convention will be inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Shanta Kumari. The valedictory address will be delivered by President Droupadi Murmu.

Highlighting the philosophical foundation of the event, she said that global discussions on women often frame men and women as competitors. “However, Indian thought views women and men as complementary to each other. They must work together. At the same time, we must further enhance the dignity and respect of women,” she said.

V. Shivani, Secretary, Bharatiya Vidvat Parishat, stated that the convention will bring together women thought leaders from across India for intensive deliberations rather than formal paper presentations.

“This is not a paper presentation format. It will be a full discussion session where participants will deliberate on the future of women — what can be done for women in remote areas and how to address region-specific challenges,” she said.

The organisers have identified several thematic areas for discussion: Vidya (Knowledge), focusing on education and leadership and inviting vice-chancellors and concerned ministers; Shakti, centred on self-reliance and skill-based training; Mukti; Siddhi; Prakriti; Sanskriti; and Kriti.

The convention aims to build a nationwide network of women intellectuals and leaders to collectively shape strategies for social transformation and empowerment rooted in Indian civilisational values.

–IANS

sn/uk

‘Poribartan hoi gaiche’: PM Modi guarantees development in Bengal

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) A new chapter of development, freedom from fear and trust in growth has begun in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, declaring it as his “guarantee” and announced that in Bengal, “Poribartan hoi gaiche” (Change has come about in Bengal).

Addressing a victory rally at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, PM Modi said women workers of the party had to withstand tyranny and atrocity in West Bengal and Kerala.

“I dedicate this victory to the people of West Bengal and the families of women who have faced atrocities,” he said.

“Today, the sun has risen in the holy land of Bengal,” he said, among cheers from the crowd.

“The new dawn in Bengal is one which has been the dream of many generations,” he said, adding that the BJP workers have uprooted the politics of fear and violence.

Stating that Bengal is starting a new journey of development, and “Vishwas and Vikas”, he said, “I assure all Bengal residents, without any discrimination, that the BJP will work day and night for them.”

The very first Cabinet meeting will ensure that the Ayushman Bharat scheme is approved, he said, assuring strict action against infiltrators and economic growth to stop migration.

He thanked the blessings of Goddess Ganga, which have remained with him since the day he filed nomination papers in Varanasi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

From the Ganga to Brahmaputra, the blessings have been boosted by Maa Kamakya as well now, as reflected in the current poll results, he said.

In the past five years, the BJP has recorded a hat-trick victory in Assam, and the NDA government in Puducherry has also returned to power with hard work, he said.

“I assure the youth in Puducherry that the prosperity of each family is our pledge and the NDA government will continue to work for the youth,” he said.

Reiterating the slogan of “Nagrik Devo Bhava”, PM Modi said, “BJP has become synonymous with good governance and delivery of promises. This is the reason why the BJP is in power in 20 states.”

“The success of the BJP is visible in successive victories in Haryana. The success is not only limited to Assembly elections but also in local bodies. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, the party has recorded historic wins in local body elections,” he said.

PM Modi said BJP mentor Shyama Prasad Mukerjee’s soul must also be relishing the victory in West Bengal, as he had fought a battle to retain Bengal as part of India.

He also credited the ECI for violence-free voting and the state registering an election in which not a single life was lost.

“Instead of gunshots, the public’s voice resonated in Bengal. Instead of fear, democracy has triumphed in the state,” he said, urging all political parties of the state to stop violent practices.

“Instead of ‘badla’, ‘badlav’ should be in focus, after BJP’s victory,” he said, asking all political parties to rise above petty politics and work in unison for Bengal’s development.

–IANS

rch/uk