By Victor Dasgupta

Copyright india

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi Uttar Pradesh. The two leaders warmly greeted each other and shook hands. Earlier amid the sound of drums and conch shells Modis convoy entered the city around 11:30 am. At several intersections along the route BJP leaders party workers and local residents lined up to welcome him chanting Har Har Mahadev.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi Uttar Pradesh. (Source: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/NiTJWZQDUn— ANI (@ANI) September 11 2025
In some places people showered flower petals while a few were also seen carrying Mauritius flags.
The prime minister landed at Babatpur airport from Delhi where he was received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. From there he proceeded to the Varanasi police lines before travelling by car to Hotel Taj the venue of his scheduled bilateral meeting with the Mauritius prime minister.
Modi and Ramgoolam are expected to hold discussions on crucial matters of bilateral cooperation with a particular focus on development partnership and capacity building according to an official statement.
They will also explore collaboration in health education science and technology energy infrastructure as well as in emerging domains such as renewable energy digital public infrastructure and the blue economy it added.
The visit builds on the momentum generated by Modis state visit to Mauritius in March 2025 during which the two leaders elevated the relationship to an enhanced strategic partnership.
Ramgoolam arrived in Varanasi on Wednesday and was received by Governor Patel and Finance Minister Suresh Khanna. He is scheduled to attend the Ganga aarti on Thursday evening and visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple on Friday morning before his departure.
BJP leaders said this will be the first bilateral meeting of the prime minister with a head of state in Kashi. Modi had earlier hosted French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018 and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 in Varanasi but those were not formal bilateral meetings.
The city has been decked up with large hoardings and banners welcoming the visiting dignitary while BJP banners also thanked Modi for the recent slash in GST on milk and dairy products. A three-layer security cover has been thrown in for the high-profile visit police said.
Thursdays trip marks Modis 52nd visit to Varanasi since 2014 when he was first elected from the constituency as Lok Sabha MP according to party office bearers.