PM Modi meets with visiting Mauritius counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi; stage set for key talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hosted Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi, marking the first formal bilateral meeting between India’s leader and a foreign head of government in his parliamentary constituency.

The two leaders met at Hotel Taj in the city, where they are expected to discuss development partnership and capacity building across a wide spectrum of sectors. According to an official statement, the agenda includes health, education, science and technology, energy, infrastructure, as well as new areas such as renewable energy, digital public infrastructure and the blue economy.

The high-profile visit follows Modi’s state trip to Mauritius in March this year, when both countries elevated their relationship to an “enhanced strategic partnership.” Thursday’s meeting is seen as a continuation of that momentum.


Modi’s arrival in Varanasi was marked by elaborate arrangements. His convoy entered the city around 11:30 am, accompanied by the sounds of drums and conch shells. At several intersections, party workers and residents gathered to greet him, chanting “Har Har Mahadev.” People showered flower petals along the route, and some carried Mauritius flags in a symbolic gesture of friendship.

At Babatpur airport, the prime minister was received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath before heading to the city for the meeting.

Ramgoolam, who reached Varanasi a day earlier, was welcomed by Governor Patel and state finance minister Suresh Khanna. His itinerary includes participating in the Ganga aarti on Thursday evening and visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple before his departure on Friday. Though Modi has previously hosted world leaders in Varanasi—such as French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018 and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022—those were not formal bilateral meetings. BJP leaders have described this occasion as a diplomatic first for the constituency.

The city has been prepared for the event with banners and hoardings welcoming Ramgoolam, alongside posters thanking Modi for recent GST cuts on milk and dairy products. Authorities deployed a three-layer security cover for the visit.

Thursday’s trip also marked Modi’s 52nd visit to Varanasi since 2014, when he was first elected MP from the constituency, underscoring his political and personal ties to the city.
The discussions between Modi and Ramgoolam are expected to further strengthen cooperation in areas that matter to both countries, from infrastructure development to emerging technologies. For New Delhi, the partnership is significant in the context of India’s growing engagement with the Indian Ocean region. For Mauritius, it presents opportunities in sustainable development, digital transformation and trade.