New Delhi: During his official visit to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Thursday given the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour – the country’s highest award – by President Emmanuel Macron.
“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award, on 13 July 2023, by H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France. Prime Minister thanked President Macron for this singular honour on behalf of the people of India,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
A warm gesture embodying the spirit of 🇮🇳-🇫🇷 partnership.
PM @narendramodi conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest award in France by President @EmmanuelMacron. pic.twitter.com/OyiHCHMDX2
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) July 13, 2023
On the second day of Modi’s two day visit on Friday, he will be the chief guest at Bastille day celebrations in Paris. The mood is expected to be less celebratory this year, however, because of the large-scale protests the country has seen recently over police racism and brutality. “There’ll be no traditional presidential speech and no amateur fireworks of the kind used by rioters,” Bloomberg reported.
On Thursday, Modi had met with French senators, held talks with his French counterpart Elizabeth Borne and addressed a meeting of the Indian diaspora at the performing arts centre La Seine Musicale. He also attended a private dinner with Macron and his wife at their official residence.
During his interaction with members of the Indian community in France, Modi said that an agreement has been reached for use of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in France. “I will go after signing the agreement. It is your responsibility to carry it forward. It (UPI) will be started from the Eiffel Tower. Now Indian tourists would be able to make payments in rupees, through UPI, at the Eiffel Tower,” he said.
Glimpses from a memorable community programme in Paris. Gratitude to all those who joined us. We are very proud of the accomplishments of our diaspora. pic.twitter.com/LYgCAQCYJl
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 13, 2023
At the event as well as in media interviews, Modi highlighted the 25-year strategic partnership between India and France. “As far as 25 years of the strategic partnership is concerned, I feel we are now at a India-France ties strong, look forward to roadmap for next 25 years: PM turning point. If we look at the post-pandemic global order and the shape that it is taking, I think the positive experience of our strategic partnership is an important step ahead. So, we look forward to working on a roadmap for the next 25 years of the strategic partnership, which I think is very important for the relationship. The relationship is in excellent shape. It is strong, trusted, consistent. It has been steady and resilient in the darkest storms,” he told the French newspaper Les Echos.
As The Wire has reported, Modi’s visit will be dominated by the spectacle of Indian soldiers taking part in one of the largest military parades in Europe, which will again underline that defence cooperation remains a mainstay of bilateral ties with announcements of new deals on engines, submarines and fighter jets in the pipeline. Read more on what to expect here.
Criticism for invitation to Modi
There are some in France who have criticised Macron for extending an invite to Modi despite his questionable human rights record in India. “India is a friend. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is far right and violently hostile to Muslims in his country,” Jean-Luc Melenchon, head of the opposition left France Unbowed Party, tweeted last month. “He is not welcome on July 14, a festival of liberty, equality, fraternity that he disdains.”
The head of the Green Party, Marine Tondelier, said the choice of Modi as guest of honor was a “grave political error” by Macron. “It has to be reminded that since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, India, which is usually called the largest democracy in the world, has kept regressing when it comes to human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Tondelier wrote in an article in French newspaper Liberation.
Recently, a small group of people prepared posters in a basement in Paris, saying “Not Today Mr. Modi! Bastille Day is the day of freedom” and “No to Modi’s extreme right agenda”, DW reported. “Bastille Day represents a certain ethos and values that are under attack in India,” Shailendra, a Paris resident, told DW. “Inviting Modi sends a wrong message.”
With inputs from DW.