Modi Pays Tribute to Holocaust Victims at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust during a visit to the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre, where he laid a wreath in their memory.
Modi was accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan during the visit to the memorial and museum, which documents and commemorates the Holocaust. The prime minister toured the Book of Names, a monumental installation preserving the names of 4.8 million Jewish victims, and took part in a memorial ceremony at the Hall of Remembrance. He also signed the Yad Vashem guest book.
This marked Modi’s second visit to Yad Vashem, following an earlier visit in July 2017 during his previous trip to Israel.
“Honouring the memory of victims of the Holocaust and renewing our shared commitment to uphold peace and human dignity. PM Narendra Modi visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X. He noted that the prime minister laid a wreath, paid homage to the victims, and visited the Book of Names Hall, calling it a powerful tribute preserving the memory of millions who perished.
“The memorial stands as a solemn reminder of the brutality of the past and our collective resolve to stand against injustice and create a better world,” Jaiswal added.
Netanyahu had also accompanied Modi during his 2017 visit to the memorial. During that visit, Modi wrote in the guest book that Yad Vashem was a poignant reminder of the unspeakable evil inflicted in the past and a symbol of the endurance of the Jewish people. He said the memorial serves as a mirror to societies worldwide as they confront conflict, intolerance, hatred, and terror, and stressed the importance of remembering history to guide future generations toward compassionate and just choices.
Modi is currently on a two-day state visit to Israel. He received a ceremonial welcome from Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Wednesday and later addressed a special plenary session of the Knesset in Jerusalem, becoming the first Indian prime minister to speak before the Israeli parliament. (Source: IANS)
