Fact Check: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude for the award, stating, 'Humbled to receive the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III of Cyprus. I dedicate it to the friendship between our nations.'

Fact Check: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude for the award, stating, 'Humbled to receive the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III of Cyprus. I dedicate it to the friendship between our nations.'"

What We Know

On October 23, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, Cyprus's highest civilian honor. During his acceptance speech, he expressed his gratitude, stating, "Humbled to receive the 'Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III' of Cyprus. I dedicate it to the friendship between our nations" (source-1, source-4). He emphasized that the award was not just a personal honor but a recognition of the strength and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians, reflecting the deep-rooted friendship between India and Cyprus (source-2, source-6).

Analysis

The claim that Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for the award and dedicated it to the friendship between India and Cyprus is substantiated by multiple credible sources. His acceptance speech, which is documented on the official Prime Minister's website, includes the exact wording of his statement (source-1). This primary source is highly reliable as it comes directly from the government of India.

Additionally, news articles from reputable outlets such as The Economic Times and Financial Express corroborate this statement, providing further context about the significance of the award and Modi's remarks (source-4, source-6). These sources report not only the content of his speech but also the broader implications of the award for India-Cyprus relations.

The consistency across these sources, along with the direct citation from Modi's speech, supports the accuracy of the claim. There are no contradicting reports or evidence that challenge the authenticity of his statement.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude for the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III and dedicated it to the friendship between India and Cyprus is accurate. The evidence from multiple credible sources, including the official acceptance speech, confirms the statement's authenticity.

Sources

1. PM's acceptance speech during the conferment of the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III
2. PM receives the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III
3. For 1.4 billion Indians: PM Modi receives Order of Makarios III award
4. PM Modi conferred with Cyprus' highest civilian honour
5. Praveen Khandelwal on X
6. Dedicate this award to our friendship: PM Modi after Cyprus confers him with highest honour
7. Nayab Saini - X
8. This isn't era of war: Modi & Cyprus President Nikos