New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tri colour at the Red Fort on Independence Day and addressed his first Independence Day on Friday August 15.
He paid homage to Mahatma Gandhiat the Raj Ghat – Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial on the banks of the Yamuna before going to the Red Fort. The prime minister offered flowers at the black stone memorial before heading to the Red Fort monument to deliver his maiden Independence Day speech.
The bullet proof glass that previous Prime Ministers have stood behind was conspicuous by its absence.
On the occasion of Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted all those who sacrificed their lives during the freedom struggle.
“I salute all those who sacrificed themselves for India’s freedom,” Modi said while addressing the nation from the Red Fort here for the first time in his long political career. “The struggle for freedom went on for years, generations sacrificed their lives even at the prime of their youth.”
“It is a tribute to Indian democracy” that a person from “a poor family, an ordinary family is today addressing the nation from the Red Fort,” he said while delivering his maiden Independence Day speech.
He also hailed Indian democracy for allowing a person from “an ordinary family” to assume the country’s top post. He said, “It is a tribute to Indian democracy” that a person from “a poor family, an ordinary family is today addressing the nation from the Red Fort,” he said while delivering his Independence Day speech indirectly referring to previous prime ministers as being from the privileged classes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the citizens to work in the national interest, and go beyond seeking personal benefits. “Everything is not for us. There are some things that should be for the nation,” Modi said while delivering his first Independence Day address from the Red Fort.
“Let’s think beyond ‘what about me’ and look at the nation,” he said.
The prime minister added it is our duty to build the nation of our forefather’s dreams. “Is it our duty to build an India that our forefathers dreamt of. Do we think how our work is helping the poor of India,” he asked.
He further described himself as the country’s “Pradhan Sevak”. He said, “I stand before you today not as the prime minister but as the pradhan sevak,” he said at the start of his speech. “Many, many greetings from the Pradhan Sevak.”
With regards to communal tension in the nation, he urged Indians to give up the “poison” of casteism and communalism and embrace unity for the country’s progress.
The prime minister said it was a shame that caste and communal politics continued even so many years after independence.
“How long will this continue?” he asked, his voice choked with emotion. We have fought enough, we have killed enough. Turn back and see, has anyone gained anything?”
He said that years of bloodshed had only caused deep wounds to “Bharat Mata”. The prime minister urged people to give up, at least for 10 years, caste and communal politics. “Peace, unity, brotherhood should take over. Only these will help us to march ahead.”
Addressing the issues of atrocities against women and children, the PM said that the country’s head hangs in shame whenever there is news about rape.
“Our heads hang in shame when we hear news about rape,” Modi said while delivering his maiden address from the Red Fort on India’s 68th Independence Day.
He also asked parents to question their sons about the malaise. “After all, a person raping is someone’s son. As parents, has anyone asked our sons, where is he going? Why not put the same yardstick for sons too,” he added.
He also drew attention to the dismal sex ratio in the country, and appealed to Indians to stop female feticide.”Have we seen our sex ratio? Who is creating this imbalance in society? Not the Almighty! I appeal to doctors not to kill the girl child,” he said addressing the nation on its 68th Independence day. He said: “I appeal to parents not to sacrifice the girl child.”
The prime minister said he knew of families which had five sons and big houses but sent away their aged parents to old age home. “At the same time, I have seen families with only one daughter who has not married to take care of her parents,” he said.
The Prime Minister reached out to opposition parties and state governments. “All the previous governments have a hand in developing India. As do state governments…we should walk together, work together and progress together,” he said in an extempore speech
New institution in place of Planning Commission: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday announced that a new institution will now work in place of the Planning Commission.
“In a short span of time we will initiate a new institution that will work in place of the Planning Commission,” said Modi while delivering his maiden speech from the Red Fort on Independence Day. “Today the times have changed from the time the Planning Commission was created,” he added.
He said that the importance of the federal structure is increasing. “This is a good thing and we have to strengthen it.”
Financial Inclusion:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech announced an ambitious financial inclusion scheme for the poor. The ‘Jan Dhan’ scheme will facilitate opening of bank accounts for all the poor people in the country.
The account holders would also get an insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh, as well as debit cards, the Prime Minister said. This scheme is expected to provide bank accounts to 15 crore poor people as part of the government’s financial inclusion programme.
Attracting Investment.
Wearing a cream short-sleeved kurta and a saffron turban, Mr Modi reiterated the commitments that powered his campaign for the national election -a focus on creating jobs and attracting investment.
The Prime minister pitched for Investment in the manufacturing sector when he said today, “I tell the world, ‘Come, make in India. Sell anywhere, but manufacture here. We have the skill and the talent’,” he said in his extempore speech on Independence Day.
