During a recent event in Pune, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked Veer Savarkar while sharing the stage with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar. The event was held to confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award upon the Prime Minister, with Sharad Pawar as the chief guest.
In his address, PM Modi highlighted Lokmanya Tilak’s vision of understanding the capabilities of the youth. He mentioned how Tilak wanted Veer Savarkar to go abroad, get educated, and then work for India’s freedom upon his return to the country. This reference to Veer Savarkar holds significance as it has been a topic of contention in Indian politics.
It is noteworthy that Rahul Gandhi, an ally of Sharad Pawar, has previously criticized Savarkar over his alleged mercy petition to the British administration. However, during this event, Sharad Pawar praised Veer Savarkar, calling him “progressive.” Pawar even advised Rahul Gandhi to refrain from making statements against Savarkar, as it is an emotional issue for their ally Shiv Sena UBT and the state of Maharashtra.
Interestingly, before the ceremony, PM Modi and Sharad Pawar were seen shaking hands and engaging in a candid conversation. This interaction comes after the recent split in the NCP due to Ajit Pawar joining the Maharashtra government, adding a unique dimension to their meeting.
During the event, PM Modi also made a philanthropic announcement, stating that he will donate the prize money he received to the Namami Gange project. He dedicated the award to the 140 crore people of the country, calling it a “memorable moment.” Additionally, he spoke about India’s roadmap for nation-building, emphasizing the vision of ‘Vyavastha Nirmaan se Sanstha Nirmaan’, ‘Sanstha Nirmaan se Vyakti Nirmaan’, ‘Vyakti Nirmaan se Rasthra Nirmaan.’
PM Modi also paid tribute to both Lokmanya Tilak and social reformer Anna Bhau Sathe, acknowledging the significant contributions of Lokmanya Tilak to India’s independence.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde praised PM Modi, expressing pride when leaders of other countries show admiration and respect for him. He mentioned how some refer to him as “boss” while others touch his feet, highlighting his stature on the international stage.
PM Modi’s visit to the state was a day-long affair, with this event garnering attention for the speeches and gestures shared between political leaders from different parties.
