Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday has been conferred the best Fijian honour—Companion of the Order of Fiji. Fijian PM Stiveni Rabuka conferred the award on PM Modi in recognition of his world management. Solely a handful of Non-Fijians have gotten this recognition thus far.  

On receiving the best Fijian honour, Prime Minister Modi stated this honour belongs to 140 crore Indians in addition to India-Fiji relations, which date again centuries. The Prime Minister stated: “This honour isn’t just mine however that of 140 crore Indians, of centuries-old India-Fiji relations”. 

Earlier than being conferred the Companion of the Order of Fiji honour, PM Modi shared his image with PM Rabuka on Twitter and wrote that India-Fiji ties have stood the take a look at of time.

Prime Minister Modi tweeted: “Delighted to fulfill PM Stiveni Rabuka of Fiji. We had an important dialog on varied subjects. The relation between India and Fiji has stood the take a look at of time. We look ahead to working collectively to additional cement it within the coming years”.  

The event befell on the sidelines of the third India-Pacific Island summit (FIPIC) summit. Through the FIPIC summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out a 12-step motion plan to bolster India-Pacific Island nation ties. The 12-step motion plan features a 100-bed regional hospital in Fiji, establishing a regional and cyber safety coaching hub in Papua New Guinea, Sagar Amrut Scholarships—100 scholarships within the subsequent 5 years, and a Jaipur Foot camp in Papua New Guinea.  

It additionally contains FIPIC SME improvement challenge, establishing desalination models for consuming water, supplying sea ambulances, establishing dialysis models and emergency helpline numbers, establishing a photo voltaic challenge for presidency buildings, Jan Aushadhi kendras and yoga centres.  

In the meantime, Rabuka on Sunday apologised to the Indian-Fijian group for the coup of 1987 forward of the India-Pacific Island summit (FIPIC). Rabuka admitted he wronged the Girmitiyas descendants and all Fijians, significantly the Indian-Fijian group, in 1987.  

Ethnic Indians had been in majority till a navy coup in 1987 compelled tens of hundreds of them to depart the island nation. The coup, staged by Rabuka, overthrew Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra’s authorities. Bavadra was the nation’s first ethnic Indian Prime Minister.  

Rabuka was quoted as saying by information company ANI: “I admit our wrongdoings, you’re appropriate to have blamed us, you’ve each proper in charge us for the difficulties you went by means of, we don’t blame you for being offended with us and even hating us, you’re justified in your anger and your hate. I stand right here to admit and to ask to your forgiveness. I’ve made my confession personally to some for my deeds in 1987.” 

(With company inputs) 

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