PM Modi To Be Honoured With Lokmanya Tilak National Award, Sharad Pawar To Be Chief Guest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be honoured with Lokmanya Tilak National Award for his supreme leadership and for awakening the feeling of patriotism among citizens, organisers said.

The event will be held in Pune on August 1. Interestingly, the organisers have invited NCP Chief Sharad Pawar as the chief guest.

"The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) will confer the Lokmanya Tilak National Award upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, the 103rd death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak," Trust president Deepak Tilak said in a release.

It said India climbed the ladder of progress under the supreme leadership of the prime minister under the concept of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

"PM Modi awakened the feeling of patriotism among citizens and put India on the global map. Considering his perseverance and efforts, and highlighting his work, the trustees of the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust have unanimously selected him for this award," the release said.

Other invitees include Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

The NCP witnessed a split recently after Ajit Pawar led a rebellion and joined the ruling Shinde government in Maharashtra. The matter has now reached the Election Commission.

The other Opposition parties attacked the BJP for the split. Considering the recent development, it has to be seen whether Sharad Pawar will share the dais with the Prime Minister.