PM Modi Receives Highest Honor in Emperor Babur’s Homeland Despite Past Rhetoric
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s receipt of Uzbekistan’s highest civilian honour, the ‘Order of Friendship of the First Class’, AIMIM Chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the PM with a political jibe. The medal, given by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during PM Modi’s visit, acknowledged the PM’s efforts to improve bilateral relations. Mr. Owaisi, however, used Mughal Emperor Babur’s place of origin to criticise the political discourse of the BJP, saying, ‘I congratulate the BJP; the very country from which Mr. Babur came to India has today honoured the PM of the country. The Fergana Valley is situated in Uzbekistan’.
Mr. Owaisi highlighted differences in the political position of the ruling party by pointing out that PM Modi has been frequently praised internationally when on diplomatic visits. He publicly criticised the Sangh Parivar and RSS followers for their previous anti-Babur statements, saying, ‘You used to hurl abuses and insulting remarks in the name of Babur, yet today the people of that particular country are showering the highest honour upon your Prime Minister’. He specifically encouraged them to reconsider their position, saying, ‘We hope that the Sangh Parivar and RSS supporters will no longer speak about Babur in that language from now on’.
Prime Minister Modi responded to the honour by highlighting the close bilateral connections between the two countries and expressing gratitude for the prestigious distinction. PM Modi stated, ‘I feel honoured to be awarded the ‘Order of Friendship of the First Class’,’ as he accepted the medal. ‘I dedicate this to the enduring and enduring relationship between Uzbekistan and India’. The Ministry of External Affairs said that his ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic and commercial ties were directly acknowledged with the award.
PM Modi and President Mirziyoyev concluded a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ during the two-day diplomatic visit, which aims to increase cooperation in trade, defence, digital infrastructure, and education while establishing a challenging goal to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030. After completing his trip to Uzbekistan, PM Modi went to Kyrgyzstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on August 31 and September 1. There, he is expected to have more high-level bilateral discussions.
