Modi In Poland: PM Urges For Lasting Peace In Region As Ukraine War Rages On, Says India Always Puts Humanity First

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India has always advocated for dialogue and diplomacy and wants to see lasting peace in the region while addressing a community event in Poland’s Warsaw.

“India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. India’s concept is clear – this is not an era of war… India believes in dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflict,” PM Modi told Indians who had gathered at a community event.

Modi, who is visiting Ukraine on Friday after finishing his two-day Poland trip, at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that he will share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.

The prime minister was accorded a warm welcome at the Warsaw airport. Shortly after he reached his hotel, PM Modi met members of the Indian diaspora and thanked them for their warm hospitality.

He also thanked the people of Poland for the warm welcome that he received. “Over the past one week, a lot has been discussed in the media about Poland and its people. It was also said that this is the first time in 45 years that an Indian PM is visiting Poland,” he said.

Homage At Three Memorials

The Prime Minister paid homage at three memorials, including the monument of the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, known here affectionately as ‘Good Maharaja’ who provided refuge to over 1,000 Polish children who escaped the Soviet Union.

In 1942, the Maharaja had provided refuge to about 1,000 Polish children from war-torn, occupied Poland and Soviet camps following the occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.

The surviving Polish children have formed an Association of Poles, which meets annually in one of the major Polish cities, it said.

According to the Indian Embassy website, eight Polish primary and secondary schools are named after Jam Saheb, known as ‘Good Maharaja’ in Poland.

He also paid his tributes at the memorials for the Valivade-Kolhapur camp and the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino in Warsaw.

“Humanity and compassion are vital foundations of a just and peaceful world. The Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw highlights the humanitarian contribution of Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, who ensured shelter as well as care to Polish children left homeless due to the Second World War. Jam Saheb is fondly remembered in Poland as Dobry Maharaja,” Modi posted on X along with some photos.

Thanking Poland

Modi thanked the people of Poland for the warm welcome that he received. “Over the past one week, a lot has been discussed in the media about Poland and its people. It was also said that this is the first time in 45 years that an Indian PM is visiting Poland,” he said.

He also thanked the Polish government for support during Operation Ganga, especially by giving visa waivers to Indians.

Modi also praised the Polish Kabaddi team for its achievements.

He also said that India and Poland have a lot of similarities. “One of them is democracy. India is not just the mother of democracy, but also a participative and vibrant democracy. People of India have a lot of confidence in democracy, and this was evident in the recent (Lok Sabha) elections,” he said, highlighting that these polls were the biggest elections in history.

He said that if any country faces a crisis, India is the first country to extend a helping hand. “When Covid came, India said – Humanity first. We sent medicines and vaccines to more than 150 countries of the world. Wherever there is an earthquake or any disaster, India has only one mantra – Humanity first,” he said.

He also recalled that Poland was one of the first countries to assist when Gujarat was hit by an earthquake two decades ago.

’Quality Manufacturing, Quality Manpower’

PM Modi while addressing the Indian diaspora said that India has now directed its entire focus on quality manufacturing and quality manpower as they are crucial aspects for the global supply chain.

“In Budget 2024, we have focused a lot on ensuring youth skill-ing and job creation, and we want to turn India into a centre of education, research and innovation,” he said.

He also launched the Jam Saheb Memorial Youth Action programme under which India will invite 20 Polish youths annually to visit India.

Modi said he has promised that in his third term, India will become the third largest economy in the world.

“NASSCOM estimates that India will become a trillion dollar economy by the end of this decade due to its digital infrastructure,” he told the crowd.

He said that India’s wisdom is global and its vision is global. “We have considered the entire world as one family and this is visible in the policies and decisions of today’s India,” he said.

He said that balance between economy and ecology is India’s priority today.

“It is only India which is moving ahead with both the resolutions of a developed nation and Net zero nation together,” he said.

He also said that India will soon establish its space station.

(with inputs from PTI)