Mauritius announces highest national award for PM Modi

Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam on Tuesday announced the country's highest award 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean' for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi is the first Indian to receive the honour. It is the 21st international award bestowed upon PM Modi by a country.

Announcing the award, Navinchandra Ramgoolam remarked, "The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean is very fitting for you Prime Minister. Since we became a republic, only five foreign dignitaries have got the title. Among them is the person we call the 'Gandhi of Africa' Mr. Nelson Mandela, he received it in 1998."

Accepting the honour, PM Modi said, "What PM Naveen (Navinchandra Ramgoolam) said just now, those words can only come from the heart. I thank from my heart for what he said from his heart... People and the government of Mauritius, and what the PM announced just now, they have decided to give me their highest civilian award. I humbly accept your decision. This is the respect of the historic relations between India and Mauritius."