New Delhi: Former Prime Minister of Fiji Mahendra Chaudhry today (Oct 13, 2004) received India's top award for overseas Indians, the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman-2004.

Chaudhry was given the award, announced at the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas celebrations held in New Delhi in January this year, by Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Jagdish Tytler at a simple ceremony in South Block.

Leader of the Fiji Labour Party and Member of Parliament, Chaudhry is one of the 12 winners of the award for 2004. He was not able to attend the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas celebrations and therefore could not collect the award then. The Pravasi Bhartiya Samman is conferred on Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin who have distinguished themselves in a particular area and made outstanding contribution towards fostering better understanding of India and its interests abroad.

Chaudhry, who was re-elected to Parliament in 2001 and is awaiting a court ruling on his constitutional right as leader of the Fiji Labour Party to be included in the Government under power sharing, is currently on a private visit to India.