Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now on a two-day trip to France, paid homage to freedom fighter Veer Savarkar in the French city of Marseille. The PM, meanwhile, recalled Savarkar’s 1910 runaway act while being moved to India to be tried in India by the British.
In an X (Twitter) post, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “Landed in Marseille. In India’s quest for freedom, this city holds special significance. It was here that the great Veer Savarkar attempted a courageous escape.”
In particular, he also recognized the contributions of French activists and French citizens and thanked them for their efforts in the fight against Savarkar’s extradition to the British authorities. “I also want to thank the people of Marseille and the French activists of that time who demanded he not be handed over to British custody,” Modi said.
Landed in Marseille. In India’s quest for freedom, this city holds special significance. It was here that the great Veer Savarkar attempted a courageous escape. I also want to thank the people of Marseille and the French activists of that time who demanded that he not be handed…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 11, 2025
Escape of Veer Savarkar from HMS Morea
Veer Savarkar’s attempt to flee the British authorities occurred on July 8, 1910. He escaped into the crowd aboard the British vessel HMS Morea, which, attempting to maneuver through a porthole, swam onto the beach. But French authorities seized him and returned him to the British, which led to a bilateral diplomatic row. Finally, Savarkar was given a life term and was sent to the notorious Cellular Jail, an Andaman and Nicobar Islands locale.
PM Modi’s Marseille Visit
While in Marseille, Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated a new Consulate General office, marking another step in strengthening India-France relations. He is also accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron, and the two are scheduled to have a busy program of events this day, including a visit to the Mazargues War Cemetery to pay respects to Indian servicemen who lost their lives in both World Wars.
On top of these commitments, PM Modi and President Macron will indeed go to ITER, a nuclear fusion effort among the members of the international scientific community. This aligns with Modi’s broader goal of bolstering cooperation between India and France, particularly in advanced technology sectors.
PM Modi’s Speech on AI in Paris
Before arriving in Marseille, Prime Minister Modi attended a summit in Paris focused on Artificial Intelligence. At the summit, he spoke about AI’s growing impact on daily life and emphasized its potential to shape the future.
Modi also discussed the issue of job displacement due to the use of AI and promoted open-source systems designed to best serve trust, transparency, and excellent datasets.“AI must be about people-centric applications. We need to handle issues of cyber security, disinformation, and deepfakes,” he claimed.
