Members of the Indian community in Warsaw have expressed excitement over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Poland.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be making official visits to Poland and Ukraine from August 21-23, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday. The visit by Prime Minister Modi will be the first visit by an Indian PM to Poland in 45 years. The visit comes as New Delhi and Warsaw mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2024.
Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, the Indian diaspora has expressed happiness as PM Modi will be visiting Poland. Members of the Indian community praised PM Modi for his contribution to the development of India.
Speaking to ANI, Saurabh Gilitwala said, “I am from Mumbai, I came to Poland 7 years ago…It has been more than 40 years since an Indian President or PM has visited Poland. We are all excited as this visit will further strengthen India-Poland ties.”
Ajay Sharma, a member of the Indian diaspora, said that they are all excited to welcome PM Modi and added that friends living in other parts of Poland have also booked their tickets to travel to Warsaw to see PM Modi
Vanya, a nine-year-old girl, showed a picture that featured PM Modi and the Indian flag. She said that she likes PM Modi as he loves children and is very kind and loving.
Gaurav Singh. Indian Students Union President, said, that the Indian community is excited about PM Modi’s visit and they want to know whether PM Modi will address the Indian community here or not. He expressed hope that the ties between the two nations will be further strengthened by PM Modi’s visit.
Karishma, a member of the Indian diaspora, said that PM Modi has contributed a lot to India’s development and India is growing very well. She said that meeting PM Modi would be a dream come true for her.
MEA Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal said that PM Modi will be visiting Poland at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk and called it a “landmark visit.”
The MEA further recalled the age-old ties between India and Poland highlighting how Poland assisted India in evacuating its students from Ukraine after conflict broke out in 2022. It also spoke about the episode from the 1940s when over 6000 Polish women and children were given refuge in princely states: Jamnagar and Kolhapur.
“Indian community in Poland estimated at around 25,000. This includes around 5,000 students. The government and people of Poland had offered valuable assistance during ‘Operation Ganga’ for the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine. More than 4,000 Indian students were evacuated via Poland in 2022. One of the unique bonds between our countries relates to the time in the 1940s during World War 2 when more than 6,000 Polish women and children found refuge in two princely states in India – Jamnagar and Kolhapur,” Tanmaya Lal said.
The MEA Secretary informed that PM Modi, during his visit will hold meetings with the Polish counterpart, President and will also interact with the India community there. He will also be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Warsaw.
“There are long-standing cultural ties between India and Poland, there is respect for Indian culture and ethos including Yoga and Ayurveda. In Warsaw, Prime Minister Modi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome. In addition to talks with PM Donald Tusk, PM Modi will also call on President Andrzej Duda. Prime Minister Modi will interact with Indian community, business leaders, and prominent endologists,” he further said.
(ANI)