Back from his visit to France, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said he will suggest that the government highlight the contribution of Indian soldiers in various theatres of World War I.

In France, leaders of 70 nations, including Naidu, came together to commemorate the centenary of the signing of the armistice which ended World War I. Others present included French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Russian President Vladamir Putin.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Naidu talked of events in France, highlighting the “sacrifices of thousands of brave Indian soldiers who had fought gallantly” in the war.

According to the Vice-President, nearly 14 lakh Indian soldiers fought during the war in various battle fields, including in France, Belgium, Aden, Arabia, East and West Africa, Turkey, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Persia, Russia, China and Greece, and close to 74,000 were killed. He said approximately 1.40 lakh Indian soldiers had fought in France and Belgium alone, and 9,300 died “fighting on the side of righteousness that India has always stood for”.

He said he will suggest to the government to “highlight in an appropriate manner” the contribution of Indian soldiers “for the right cause in far off battle theatres, though World War I was not an Indian battle in the true sense of it”.

Naidu, who had unveiled an Indian War Memorial in Villers Guislain in Northern France, said he “reminded the fellow leaders” of sacrifices of thousands of Indian soldiers who fought “for the cause of righteousness and the interest of peace, human liberty and freedom”.