Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, on February 12, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Marseille, where he honoured freedom fighter V.D. Savarkar, who made a daring escape attempt in the French city. Speaking to reporters, Raut called it “a matter of pride.”
While speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stated, “… There is nothing wrong with the PM visiting the place from where Veer Savarkar made his escape. It is a matter of pride for us.”
Further adding, he remarked, “… It is wrong to question Veer Savarkar. He escaped from a boat, swam to the shore, and was later charged in a case. Veer Savarkar was fearless. While we may disagree with some of his ideological views, he was undoubtedly a great freedom fighter and a revolutionary.”
#WATCH | Delhi | On PM Narendra Modi's visit to Marseille, France, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "… It is not right to raise questions against Veer Savarkar… Veer Savarkar escaped from a boat and swam to the shore, and then a case was filed against him. If the PM… pic.twitter.com/y9WDyOTvhE
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2025
Earlier in the day, when PM Modi arrived in Marseille, southern France, he paid tribute to freedom fighter V D Savarkar, who had made a “brave escape” attempt in the port city.
Upon arriving in Marseille, PM Modi took to X and wrote, “Landed in Marseille. This city holds special significance in India’s freedom struggle. It was here that the brave Veer Savarkar made a courageous escape attempt,” he posted on X Tuesday night.
Landed in Marseille. In India’s quest for freedom, this city holds special significance. It was here that the great Veer Savarkar attempted a courageous escape. I also want to thank the people of Marseille and the French activists of that time who demanded that he not be handed…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 11, 2025
Marseille holds historical significance in India’s freedom struggle due to Veer Savarkar’s bold escape attempt from British custody. Reports suggest that Savarkar managed to slip out of a ship’s porthole and swim to the shore but was soon captured by French authorities and handed back to the British. This incident sparked a major diplomatic controversy, and Savarkar was later sentenced to life imprisonment at the Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
