On August 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune.
This was given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Freedom Fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s 103rd death anniversary. The award ceremony took place at SP College in the presence of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.
Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the prestigious award, Prime Minister Modi humbly acknowledged the significance of Lokmanya Tilak’s sacrifices for the country’s freedom. He felt fortunate to stand on the sacred land of Pune while accepting the award and donned a Puneri turban as a warm gesture of welcome.
During his acceptance speech, Modi emphasized that this award comes with an added responsibility, which he gladly dedicates to the 140 crore citizens of the nation. As a tribute to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he announced his decision to donate the award amount to the “Namami Ganga Project,” named after the revered freedom fighter.
Despite opposition from some MPs, Sharad Pawar joined the Prime Minister on stage during the ceremony. However, outside the event, Congress workers and other organizations staged protests in the Mandai area, voicing their concerns over the Manipur violence. The police detained around 20 Congress Party workers, including MLA Ravindra Dhangekar, who were shouting slogans against Modi near the Lord Ganpathi temple where the Prime Minister performed Puja and Aarti.