Mr. Modi's international visit.

After undergoing a pretty uneasy time here in the nation, Mr. Narendra Modi has gone for a historic international bilateral meeting with three important nations for India in the Indian Ocean region. Mr. Modi started his three island countries visit on Tuesday and would go to Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Mauritius. According to his Foreign Secretary Mr. S. Jaishankar, India has had strong bonds and geographical connectivity with the three nations and Mr. Modi’s meeting is destined to strengthen the bonds between India.

Mr. Modi’s visit to the three nations is a pretty ingenious step towards ameliorating relations with the neighboring states and as these three countries hold a special place in India’s maritime policies aimed at restraining People’s Republic of China from making further expansion in the Indian ocean region.

Sri Lanka has always been an important global state and also means too much for India but due to previous operations of Sri Lanka against LTTE and its huge flouting of human rights during its war against LTTE and therefore India’s ties with Sri Lanka soured completely and hence there was hardly any big level talks between the two nations but now Mr. Modi has surely taken a positive leap towards enhancing the ties between the two nations. His visit is more special too because he would be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka in the last two decades.

Mr. Modi will be in Sri Lanka from 13^th-14^th March and will unveil some projects made there by India’s assistance.  He is also slated to flag off a train from Talaimannar which has been built with assistance from India. He will also unveil a plaque at Jaffna cultural center and hand over houses to internally displaced people made by India to assist distressed denizens of Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister will also talk to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena during which some crucial arguments are to be signed and will also attend a lunch to be hosted by his counterpart Ranil Wickremsinghe. Prime Minister will also address Sri Lanka’s parliament and will also visit IPKF memorial to pay his homage. During the visit Mr. Modi will also visit leaders of Tamil National Alliance.

In Seychelles Mr. Modi will hold talks with President James Alexi Michel to strengthen maritime ties. Mr. Modi will be second Indian Prime Minister to visit Seychelles after Indira Gandhi.

India recently gave a patrol ship to Seychelles; a 115-island country located 1,500 km east of Southeast Africa. The patrol ship was for the Seychelles Coast Guard to better patrol its extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Both are likely to ink an agreement to strengthen the energy sector of the Seychelles, an Indian Ocean archipelago of 90,000 people.

The Prime Minister will visit Mauritius on March 11-12 where he will hold intensive meetings with Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to further strengthen India's special and unique relations with that country. PM Modi will also address Mauritian parliament.

Besides meeting other political personalities of the island, PM Modi will pay a visit to the Ganga Talao and Apravasi Ghat, both of which are associated with the arrival of the Indian indentured labourers to Mauritius.

He will also visit the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.
During the visit, several Memorandums of Understanding are set to be inked, including an agreement to facilitate sea and air transport.

Though the three countries which Mr. Modi are visiting are not pretty much important if we consider them on the scale of investment etc. but they are pretty important geographical areas in the Indian ocean for India. And what’s the problem in having an amicable neighborhood? The three nations can also help us boost the “Make In India” program pretty well because India can assist these nations in allocating technologies related to maritime security, communication technology etc. to them and this can really help the people in these countries and India can get some good trustworthy partners.

So thumbs up for Mr. Modi’s visit to these crucial neighbours of India.

JAI HIND, JAI BHARAT

JAI MA BHARTI