Minister Champai Soren and Gopal Krishna Patar welcome President of Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth at Sonari aerodrome on Tuesday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Nov. 16: He came, he spoke and he floored the audience with his speech.

“Bharat se hamar khoon ke rishtay ba. Hamar purvaz aeiza se gayel raha. Bharat iela se lagela hum apne ghar aa gayel rahni (We have blood relations with India. Our forefathers hailed from this country. Coming to India gives me a feel of my own home),” said President of Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth in fluent Bhojpuri, as he addressed the executive body members of Tata Workers’ Union (TWU) at the Michael John Auditorium this evening.

Jugnauth said it was his long-cherished dream to visit Tata Steel, which he said had set an example of industrial harmony because of cordial relations between the management and union. “Hamar dua ba company nirantar tarakki kare (I pray for the company’s progress and well being),” he said amid thunderous applause.

During the hour-long programme, TWU president Raghunath Pandey highlighted the history of the union and its achievements. According to Pandey, it was for the first time in the history of the union that a President had addressed the executive body.

Tata Steel managing director H.N. Nerurkar who also addressed the function, shared his experiences of his recent visit to Mauritius.

The octogenarian President of the island nation also advocated strong bonds between India and Mauritius.

“Ties between India and Mauritius are very friendly. The bond should be made stronger by fostering brotherhood between the people of two countries,” said Jugnauth, who is on a three-day visit to the city. The audience gave a standing ovation after the VVIP guest concluded his speech.

Earlier, this morning Jugnauth accompanied by his wife Sarojini arrived at Sonari aerodrome on a special Tata Steel aircraft.

Soon after their arrival, the aerodrome witnessed unruly scenes as policemen prevented reporters and lensmen from entering the campus. In the process, two digital cameras belonging to representatives of the electronic media were damaged. Police also resorted to a mild lathicharge.

Tribal welfare minister Champai Soren and excise minister Gopal Krishna Patar welcome the couple on behalf of the state.

From the aerodrome the President drove to the Director’s Bungalow from where he visited the Tata Steel works.

Chief minister Arjun Munda, who arrived in the city late in the evening, will call on the President tomorrow. Munda will host a lunch in his honour at the Beldih Club.