The Prime Minister also said that trust in each other “will make us strong”. He said development is impossible if there is an atmosphere of mistrust
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being conferred with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award, in Pune, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Photo/PMIndia website
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Lokmanya Tilak had a unique ability to identify young talent and Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar was one such example.
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Addressing a ceremony in Maharashtra’s Pune where he was conferred with Lokmanya Tilak National Award, the Prime Minister praised Tilak and said that he changed the course of the freedom struggle in India. “The British called him the father of Indian unrest,” Modi said.
He said he feels honoured to receive the award named after Lokmanya Tilak, who was at the forefront of India's freedom struggle. “Today some people get uncomfortable if things named after foreign invaders are renamed,” Modi said.
"Lokmanya Tilak had this unique ability to identify young talent. Veer Savarkar was one such example," Modi said. He said Tilak realised the capability of Veer Savarkar and was instrumental in his education abroad. “When an award is named after Lokmanya Tilak, the responsibility increases,” he said.
The Prime Minister also said that trust in each other “will make us strong”. He said development is impossible if there is an atmosphere of mistrust.
Earlier, the Prime Minister performed pooja at Dagdusheth Halwai Ganesh temple in Pune. Immediately after his arrival in the city from Delhi, the prime minister visited the famous Ganesh temple on Shivaji Road.
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Modi has become the first serving PM to visit the temple and perform pooja, the temple trustees said.
Over the years, some serving and former presidents, former prime ministers, serving cabinet ministers, chief ministers and political leaders have had darshan of the deity that sees lakhs of devotees during the 10-day Ganeshotsav.
The Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple managed by the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Trust is among the richest temples in the state and devotees believe its idol holds the power to fulfil wishes.
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed had visited the temple as President of India and former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chandra Shekhar and I K Gujral offered prayers when they were not in office.
BJP leader L K Advani, who was a cabinet minister during the Vajpayee government, also came here to take blessings while Shankar Dayal Sharma, after completing his term as the President of India, visited the place.
Recently, Union home minister Amit Shah, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, former vice-president Venkaiah Naidu and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari visited the temple. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has also performed pooja at the temple.
The trust's website says Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Bismillah Khan and Lata Mangeshkar were among the visitors to the temple. (With inputs from PTI)
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