Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Bangladesh on the occasion of the country’s 50th Independence Day. Speaking to the public on the occasion, Modi hailed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s leadership, and reminisced about the Indian Army’s contribution to the Bangladesh movement, in 1971. Modi also said that it was an honour to award Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2020.
Modi’s speech surprised many, as he stated rather bizarre facts, that have become the topic of discussion on social media. Modi said that he was part of the protests that took place in India, towards the liberation of Bangladesh (then, East Pakistan), from Pakistan. He also said that he was one of the people who was sent to jail for participating in the protests.
Many have pointed out at this particular fact and started debating on the accuracy of it, on social media. This is not the first time that PM Modi has claimed to be a part of something or to have done something that no one else was aware of. In the past, he said that air warcrafts hid behind clouds and then went for war after that. Fact remains that this is not something that can be done by aircrafts, which shocked everyone in the past, and resulted in a debate online, to which Modi never responded.
With regards to Modi’s comment on being part of the protests for the freedom of Bangladesh, many have pointed out that there were no protests in India for the liberation of Bangladesh. It has also been pointed out that Bangladesh received its freedom due to the intervention of the Indian army, to which the Pakistani army surrendered, after 13 days of war. Many have started asking for the details and whereabouts of Modi during the event, and many have been criticising the PM for making such statements.