It was like homecoming for Mahendra Chaudhary in his `mother’s land’

Speaking in an emotionally choked voice in Hindi, he said: “Fiji, my motherland, is a small place with a total population of about 80 lakhs. I was touched, this morning, to see nearly as many people lined up to greet me, right from where I entered Haryana up to this place (Rohtak). It feels as if I have come to my own political constituency, back in Fiji.”

Chaudhry, who was accompanied by his wife, Veermati Chaudhary, was first given a traditional welcome when he stopped at the popular Haryana Tourism lake resort of Tilyar, en route to Rohtak.

At Rohtak, he was joined by the Governor, Babu Parmanand, and escorted to Maharishi Dayanand University. There at a function, attended by Chief Minister O P Chautala, former prime minister Devi Lal, Haryana ministers and legislators, MDU V-C and others, he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Lit degree by the Governor who is the Chancellor of the university.

Delivering a thanks giving speech, after receiving the degree, Chaudhary He then delivered a thanksgiving speech for the “people of my mother’s land, Haryana” for their support during his 56 days of captivity after he was ousted by George Speight on May 19 this year. “During my captivity, I was very much aware of your prayers and support and was very moved,” he said.

Later in the evening, the Chief Minister organised a civic reception for him on the university campus. Leaders from various parties pledged their support to Chaudhary in his struggle for restoration of democracy in Fiji.