- Sunday, May 19, 2024
Ahead of the ceremony, Modi was conferred with France’s highest honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour by Macron.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (14) attended the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, France, as the guest of honour. Troops from India’s tri-services also paraded alongside their French counterparts on the Champs Elysee avenue on the occasion as Modi watched with president Emmanuel Macron.
The two leaders were set to attend a banquet with 200 guests at the landmark Louvre Museum in Paris.
Modi also tweeted a video of the Indian troops’ parading, and said in Hindi that it would make every Indian proud. He was seen saluting the troops as they passed by.
इसे देखकर हर भारतीय गौरवान्वित होगा! pic.twitter.com/Hz8OWD4JLG
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023
Ahead of the ceremony, Modi was conferred with France’s highest honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour by Macron. According to the French presidency, the honour came as an acknowledgement to the role of the Indian leader “in the excellent relations of friendship and confidence that unite France and India”.
In a tweet in English and French that also featured photographs of himself with Macron at the award ceremony held at the Elysee presidential palace, Modi said, “It is with great humility that I accept the Legion of Honour grand cross.”
It is with great humility that I accept the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. This is an honour for the 140 crore people of India. I thank President @EmmanuelMacron, the French Government and people for this gesture. It shows their deep affection towards India and resolve for… pic.twitter.com/Nw7V1JVgpb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023
“It is an honour for the 1.4 billion residents of India,” he added, thanking Macron and the French. Modi also said that it “showed their profound affection for India and the continuation of friendship with our nation”.
France’s Legion of Honour award is presented to both military and civilians for achievements and services to the nation. The honour was instituted by none other than Napoleon Bonaparte and has five grades.
India and France are observing 25 years of their “strategic partnership” this year and the honour accorded to Modi reflected the deepening ties between the two democracies.
India also announced its intention to buy another 26 Rafale jets from France besides three more Scorpene-class submarines. The South Asian nation has already bought 36 Rafales, three of which took part in Friday’s celebrations in Paris.
While Modi called the French president his “friend” while addressing the Indian diaspora on Thursday (13) evening, the latter told a meeting of military leaders the same day that India was “a giant of world history which will have a decisive role for our future”.
Modi’s visit to France takes place less than two months after he made an eventful visit to Australia and a few weeks after making his first state visit to the US.
The Indian prime minister’s visit to Paris takes place just days after France witnessed riots over the killing of a teenager in police firing. Weeks of urban clashes saw several public properties getting destroyed and more than 3,500 people arrested, including many minors.
In many towns in France, traditional firework displays remained cancelled on the occasion of the National Day while transportation was restricted in Paris from 10 pm onwards.
(With Le Monde, AFP inputs)
