Modi Attends Big-Ticket Events With CM Uddhav, Calls to Strengthen India’s 'Culture of Healthy Debate'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday evening to attend some big-ticket events, including the launch of a Gallery of Revolutionaries museum at Raj Bhavan, in the presence of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, which comes after months of hostilities between former allies BJP and Shiv Sena.

At the inauguration of the Gallery of Revolutionaries in Raj Bhawan, the prime minister invoked Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to emphasise ‘Swaraj’ and patriotism. “When we talk about ‘Swaraj’, the lives of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj even today strengthen the sense of patriotism in each Indian,” the PM said.

“Maharashtra has inspired the country in many fields. If we talk about social revolutions, there is a very rich legacy of social reformers, from Jagatguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj to Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Modi said, adding that saints from Maharashtra like Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Samarth Ramdas and Chokhamela have given energy to the country.

Earlier today, PM Modi was received by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, CM Thackeray, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and protocol minister Aaditya Thackeray at INS Shikra heliport in Mumbai.

The underground Gallery of Revolutionaries museum has come up in the subterranean network of 13 pre-World War-I British era bunkers, discovered in the Raj Bhavan campus in August 2016 during the tenure of the then Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao. The gallery includes information on the freedom movement heroes, their role in the movement, sculptures, rare photographs, murals and details on tribal revolutionaries drawn by school kids.

The prime minister also inaugurated the Jal Bhushan Building, the official residence of the Maharashtra governor since 1885. Upon completing its lifespan, Jal Bhushan was demolished and a new building was sanctioned in its place, a government release said, adding that the foundation stone for the new building was laid by the Hon’ble President of India in August 2019.

Late evening, PM Modi participated in Dwishatabdi Mahotsav of Mumbai Samachar at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. CM Uddhav was also present at the event. Modi launched a special stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of one of Mumbai’s iconic newspapers. “I congratulate them on completing 200 glorious years. Regional newspapers played an important role in the independence struggle. The Parsi community played a big role in national development,” Modi said at the event. Modi also said the newspaper did not lose its local connect when Mumbai became Bombay. Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel often quoted this newspaper, he added.

Need to strengthen the culture of healthy debates and open discussions: Modi

Speaking at the BKC event, PM Modi said that there’s a need to strengthen the culture of healthy debates and open discussions that have been a hallmark of India over the years. Modi said that over the last thousands of years, Indians have spoken openly about the most difficult of the topics and made correct logic an integral part of society.

Debate and discussions have helped the country over the years and we need to strengthen the culture, the PM said, adding that every institution has a particular role to play for the betterment of the society, be it the media or the legislature.

PM Modi also hailed the Indian media, which he said, has slammed the government’s policies but also stood for the national interest. He hoped that the media will continue to play its role in the next 25 years, which his government has called the Azadi ka Amrut Kaal.

PM Modi and Uddhav shared stage after over 4 months

The presence of PM Modi and Uddhav in the same events assumes significance as it comes after months of bitter hostilities between the BJP and Shiv Sena over the Hanuman Chalisa row. CM Uddhav had earlier skipped events attended by PM Modi. On April 24, the Maharashtra CM had skipped an event with PM for the first Lata Mangeshkar award at Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai and had not even received him at the airport.

Before that, on March 6, when the prime minister visited Pune to inaugurate Pune Metro, Thackeray stayed away. The Sena had said the CM could not attend the function as he was recovering from a surgery. Prior to that, Modi and Thackeray were seen together, for a few moments, during the last rites of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar at Shivaji Park in the city on February 6.

The relations between the Sena and BJP, former allies who split up after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, worsened steadily over the years. The Sena has often accused the Union government of misusing central agencies to target the Sena-NCP-Congress coalition government in Maharashtra. Some prominent ministers and legislators of the coalition have faced probes by the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies. Recently, the ED raided the properties of Thackeray’s brother-in-law.

(With PTI inputs)

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