Why Did PM Modi Take Savarkar’s Identify In Marseilles?

New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi – within the French port metropolis of Marseille, as a part of a two-day go to to that nation – paid homage to the reminiscence of freedom fighter VD Savarkar and his tried escape from a British ship anchored there en path to India, the place he was to face trial.
“Landed in Marseille. In India’s quest for freedom, this metropolis holds particular significance. It was right here that the good Veer Savarkar tried a brave escape,” Mr Modi mentioned in an X put up.
“I additionally need to thank the folks of Marseille and the French activists of that point who demanded he not be handed over to British custody,” the PM mentioned in his put up.
“The bravery of Veer Savarkar continues to encourage generations!”
Landed in Marseille. In India’s quest for freedom, this metropolis holds particular significance. It was right here that the good Veer Savarkar tried a brave escape. I additionally need to thank the folks of Marseille and the French activists of that point who demanded that he not be handed…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 11, 2025
Savarkar tried his escape on July 8,1910 from HMS Morea.
He reportedly slipped by a porthole (a small, often round, window) and swam ashore, the place he was captured by French authorities and handed again to officers on the HMS Morea.
The incident triggered a serious diplomatic row; Savarkar was later sentenced to life imprisonment on the Mobile Jail within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Mr Modi is in Marseille to inaugurate a brand new Consulate Common workplace within the metropolis.
He’s accompanied by President Emmanuel Macron; the leaders even have a collection of different engagements deliberate for the day, together with a go to to the Mazargues Warfare Cemetery to honour the sacrifice of Indian troopers who died preventing in World Warfare I and II. A tour of the ITER – a world nuclear fusion collaboration challenge – can also be on their agenda.
On Tuesday, after Mr Modi arrived in Paris, the 2 addressed a summit on Synthetic Intelligence, by which the Prime Minister spoke about how AI is taking part in an important function in our every day lives.
He additionally spoke about job losses as a result of AI and highlighted how this should be tackled.
“We should pull collectively our assets and expertise and develop open supply methods that improve belief and transparency and develop high quality datasets, free from biases, with a view to profit the world. AI should be about people-centric functions. We should deal with considerations associated to cyber safety, disinformation, and deep fakes,” PM Modi mentioned, as leaders from internationally listened.
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