New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India has brought back more than 200 precious idols in the last seven years which were stolen or smuggled in the past in contrast to just 13 of them retrieved before 2014.
In the 86th edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi said, “Till 2013, just 13 idols were retrieved. But after 2014 India has successfully brought back more than 200 precious idols.” The Prime Minister credited India’s growing soft power for the other countries coming forward to help retrieve the smuggled idols from India. “Nations where these idols were smuggled to now realise and feel India’s attachment to the stolen heritage. They note the importance attached with such idols in India,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi began the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ with a special mention about the idols that India successfully brought back from Italy and Australia in recent times and said that Avalokiteshwara Padmapani is dated more than 1,000 years old.
Tune in to #MannKiBaat February 2022. https://t.co/ajpBQkPkyq
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2022
“At the beginning of this month, India has been successful in bringing its precious heritage from Italy. It is Avalokiteshwara Padmapani, which is an idol older than more than 1,000 years. It was stolen a few years ago from Gaya’s Devisthan Kunlandpur temple. But after a lot of effort, India has got back the statue.
Similarly, a few years ago, Bhagwan Anjaneyar, Hanuman Ji’s idol, was stolen from Vellore in Tamil Nadu which was nearly 700 years old. At the beginning of this month, it was handed over to Indian Mission in Australia,” PM Modi said.
HIGHLIGHTS
Just like the sibling duo of Kili & Neema, I urge everyone, especially kids from different states to make lip-syncing videos of popular songs (from a state different than theirs). We’ll redefine ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ & popularise Indian languages: PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat
Many idols were smuggled from India, sold in different nations. Bringing those idols back was our responsibility. Till 2013, just 13 idols were brought back but after 2014, India brought back over 200 previous idols from nations like US, Britain, Canada..: PM Modi
In a tweet, the Prime Minister had said, “This month’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme will take place on the 27th of February, and as before I am eager for your suggestions …write them on MyGov, the NaMo App or dial 1800-11-7800 and record your message.”
The Prime Minister’s monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann ki Baat’ is aired on the last Sunday of every month. The programme will be broadcast on the entire network of AIR and Doordarshan and also on AIR News and mobile app.
The first episode of the programme was broadcast on October 3, 2014.
