Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 1: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award at a function in Pune on Tuesday on which all eyes were set as he was sharing the dais with the veteran opposition leader Sharad Pawar with the Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde also present.
But all the leaders avoided making any direct reference to political situation in the non-political event though Modi recounted the progress the country had made under his governance in the last nine years.
While Modi was the recipient of the award conferred by the TIlak Smarak Trust, the Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was the chief guest at the function while Shinde was present in his capacity as the president of the Trust. Modi was selected for the award, comprising a memento and citation, “in recognition of his supreme leadership and for awakening the feeling of patriotism among citizens.”
Before the ceremony began, Pawar and Modi exchanged pleasantries. The duo are sharing dais after more than eight years since the latter visited Pawar’s political bastion in Baramati in February, 2015 for an agricultural event.
During the day, the Prime Minister also flagged off metro trains marking the inauguration of completed sections of Pune Metro phase I. He also laid the foundation stones for various development projects worth ₹15,000 crores
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.
Some of the opposition leaders had also been trying to dissuade Pawar from sharing the dais with Modi particularly when he was one of the main pillars in bringing 26 non-BJP parties under the umbrella of “INDIA.” Pawar, however, did not agree and his daughter Supriya Sule, MP, justifying his presence pointed out that Modi was the prime minister of the country when he was visiting his home town, the veteran leader should not skip the event.
After being conferred the Lokmanya Tilak national award, 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 Vallabhbhai 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,” 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 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,” Modi added.
On his part, Sharad Pawar said 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 Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar and the trustees.
During the visit, Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects at Shivaji Nagar Police headquarters in Pune. He laid the foundation stones for various development projects worth Rs 15,000 crores. Addressing a gathering at Shivaji Nagar Police headquarters, Modi said his government was working towards improving the quality of life of the people.
“Foundation stone has been laid for around ₹15,000 crore projects here, thousands of families received proper house…Our govt is very serious about the quality of life of the middle class and professionals in the city…when the quality of life of the people improves, the development of the city also happens fast…” he said. “Our government is working towards improving the quality of life of the people,” Modi added.
The Prime Minister, speaking after flagging off two new Pune Metro trains and inaugurating and laying foundation stone of ₹15,000 crore development projects in Pune, said: “The Karnataka government has admitted that it has no funds for development of Bengaluru. Similar is the case in Rajasthan where the state is under a huge debt and development projects are stalled.”
“Bengaluru is a global investors’ centre and IT hub, but the ill-effects of the State government’s announcement are seen there in such a short time. If any party, for its selfish interests, empties the state coffers, then people bear the brunt,” Modi said. “We are seeing the same situation in Rajasthan. Development works are at standstill there,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said NCP chief Sharad Pawar could have turned his back on the event to clear doubts about him among those who have taken a dim view of it.
An editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ claimed Modi accused the NCP of corruption and then engineered a split in the party and muddied the politics in Maharashtra. “Still Sharad Pawar will welcome Modi and this has not gone down well with some people. This was a good opportunity for Pawar to turn his back on the programme and clear the doubts about him among people,” the Marathi daily said.