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Journalism of Courage
All eyes were set on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday as they shared the dais at a function in Pune, however, both leaders avoided making any direct political statements on the current situation in the country or the state.
The event held significance in the backdrop of the Opposition uniting under the ‘INDIA’ banner to take on the Narendra Modi-led government ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the NCP last month witnessing a split with Ajit Pawar breaking ranks to join the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. The Opposition has also been protesting against the BJP-led government, in the state and the Centre, over the situation in Manipur.
After being conferred the Lokmanya Tilak national award by the Tilak Smarak Trust, Modi highlighted Tilak’s vision of creating a modern India and his understanding of the capabilities of the youth. “Tilak had recognised the capability of Veer Savarkar and encouraged him to go abroad, get educated, and then work for the freedom of the country,” Modi said.
Tilak, the PM added, believed in nation-building through conserving and promoting the culture of the country along with promoting Swadeshi and education in the freedom struggle. “Tilak had inspired Sardar Vallabhai Patel during his visit to Ahmedabad. Thus, Patel managed to install the statue of Tilak in the Victoria Garden built by the British despite facing opposition. This statue was dedicated to the nation by Mahatma Gandhi,” PM Modi said. “Now, if the name of a road in the name of a foreigner is changed to that of our leader, a lot of noise is created,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that the trust in the government had increased tremendously and that it was due to the participation of citizens that big changes had taken place in the country in the last nine years. “The jump of the Indian economy to the fifth largest in the world is all because of the contribution of citizens. The country has excelled in all sectors. There is a confidence that we can do it,” he said.
Modi also recalled Tilak’s initiative to start Shiv Jayanti and other festivals to bring everyone together to achieve freedom. “Tilak understood the importance of journalism and the newspaper started by him still exists,” he said, adding that Tilak was a visionary.
“I am honoured by getting an award in the name of Tilak and from the organisation and place related to the freedom fighter. It has increased the responsibility,” PM Modi added.
On his part, Sharad Pawar said that Pune has a lot of significance as it was the birthplace of Maratha warrior Shivaji and due to the work of Lokmanya Tilak, who was based in the city. “Tilak had launched an attack on the British through his newspaper. He believed that journalism should not be under any pressure. He himself followed it,” Pawar said.
The contribution of Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi cannot be forgotten and was an inspiration for generations, Sharad Pawar said, adding that the award in the name of Tilak had been conferred to Indira Gandhi, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh in the past. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an addition to the list of recipients. I congratulate him,” Pawar said.
During his speech, the Prime Minister declared that he would donate the Rs 1 lakh cash award to the Namami Gange project.
Along with Modi and Pawar, those present on the dais were Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, trustee Sushil Kumar Shinde, trust president Deepak Tilak, trust vice-president Rohit Tilak, trustee Geetali Mone-Tilak and trustee Praniti Tilak.
