In his 10th consecutive Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spelt out his vision of India, the world order and geopolitical equation. But the Opposition parties completely reject all his claims
Our Bureau
New Delhi
Putting forward his vision of a new and more assertive India during his 10th address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the India of today was full of self-confidence. “When we set our mind to a task, we get it done. This has been our track record. This is a new India full of self-confidence… Ye Bharat na rukta hai, na thakta hai, na haanfta hai aur na hi haarta hai (The India of today doesn’t stop, tire, gasp or give up),” PM Modi said.
He said the character of India will serve as the biggest catalyst in her quest to become a developed country by 2047, which would mark the completion of 100 years of independence). “In the next 25 years, we must move forward with the mantra of unity,” PM Modi added.
On the new Parliament building, PM Modi said earlier, there used to be discussions around it but it was his government that got it done.
“For 25 years, the new Parliament building was only in the realm of discussions across the country. Ye Modi hai, samay ke pehle Sansad banakar ke rakh diya (But this is Modi, we delivered the new Parliament building ahead of schedule). This is a government that works to meet goals that it sets for itself,” PM Modi added.
Meanwhile, continuing with a tradition from 2014 when he assumed the country’s highest office, PM Modi donned a multicolored Rajasthani bandhej turban paired with an off-white kurta and churidar for the Independence Day celebrations.
This year’s Independence Day will culminate the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, which were launched by the Prime Minister from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021, and will usher the country into the ‘Amrit Kaal’ (golden era).
Recalling the era of COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India helped different countries during the time of crisis and that India has emerged as a “Vishwa Mitra” (friend of the world).
“We have to make our country so strong that will contribute to Vishwa Mangal (Global welfare).
After Covid, the way India helped the world during the time of crisis, India has emerged as Vishwa Mitra. When we talk about Vishwa Mangal which is India’s basic idea that we have to expand,” PM Modi said while addressing the countrymen from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day.
“We have presented philosophies and the world is now connecting with India over them. For the renewable energy sector, we said ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’. After Covid, we told the world that our approach should be of ‘One Earth, One Help’. We can solve the problem when we address the issues of people, animals and plants equally. For the G20 Summit, we should focus on the idea of ‘One World, One Family, One Future,” he added.
He also stated that India has launched Mission LiFE for the climate issues that the world is facing. And also made the solar alliance which now many countries are becoming part of.
In his 10th consecutive Independence Day speech, the Prime Minister said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the world order and the definition of the geopolitical equation have changed and India has become the voice of the global south.
“After the Second World War, a new world order took shape but I can see now clearly that a new global order and a new geopolitical equation is moving ahead after the Covid; the definition of the geopolitical equation has changed. And my dear family members, your capability is visible in giving the world a new shape…,” PM Modi said.
He also said that India is becoming the voice of the global south.
Modi on Tuesday addressed fellow countrymen as ‘parivarjan’ (family members) on the 77th Independence Day. Modi was received by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries as he arrived at the Red Fort and began his customary address to the nation after raising the tricolor at the iconic monument.
PM Modi had previously outlined the Centre’s commitment to make India a developed country by 2047, which will be the centenary year of the country’s independence.
The Guard of Honor to PM Modi was commanded by Major Vikas Sangwan. The Army Contingent in the Prime Minister’s Guard was commanded by Major Indrajeet Sachin, the Naval contingent by Lieutenant Commander MV Rahul Raman and the Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Akash Ganghas. The Delhi Police contingent was commanded by Additional DCP Sandhya Swami.
After inspecting the Guard of Honor, PM Modi proceeded to the ramparts of the Red Fort where he was greeted by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt, Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar, and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the Ministry said.
The GoC, Delhi area escorted Prime Minister Modi to the ramparts of the Red Fort to hoist the national flag. The Army band, comprising one JCO and 20 other ranks, played the National Anthem during the hoisting of the national flag and the presenting of the ‘Rashtriya Salute’.
The flag hoisting was followed by a synchronized 21 Gun Salute by the gunners of the elite 8711 Field Battery (Ceremonial). The ceremonial battery was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Vikas Kumar and the Gun Position Officer will be Naib Subedar (AIG) Anoop Singh.
But calling Prime Minister’s Independence Day address his “farewell speech,” Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj on Tuesday claimed that next year Narendra Modi will sit on chairs made available for guests at Red Fort. Saurabh Bhardwaj said,” His (PM Modi’s) speech looked like a farewell speech. I feel this was the last speech he delivered from the Red Fort. Next time he will definitely come to Red Fort but will sit on the chairs made available for guests and will listen to a new Prime Minister.”
Reacting to the remarks made by Prime Minister Modi on the country’s need to fight against corruption, dynasty and appeasement, Bhardwaj said that such remarks reflect the double standards of the BJP. “These remarks reflect the double standards and hollowness of the BJP. The main leaders of the BJP in each state have their own children in active politics. Parvesh Verma in Delhi, Pankaja Munde in Maharashtra, Scindia family in Rajasthan. Dynasty politics is growing in BJP,” he said.
Also, Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday said that there is no dynasty politics in the party and slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his ‘Parivarvaad’ remark during the Independence Day speech adding that the PM should see in his party that so many MP’s sons are MLAs.
Affirming Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement that “next year PM Modi will hoist flag from his residence and not from Red Fort”, Udit Raj said, “it is going to happen.”
“Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that from the next year, PM Modi will be hoisting the flag from his residence and not from the Red Fort, it is going to happen. In a corruption case of Rs 70,000 crores, he (PM Modi) blamed Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Ajit Pawar. He promised to send them to jail, and now he has made them ministers. There’s no dynasty politics in Congress, our party president is Kharge ji. He (PM Modi) needs to see in his party that so many MP’s sons are MLAs,” the Congress leader said.
Earlier today, Kharge slammed PM Modi over his “The next 15th August, from this Red Fort, I will present before you the achievements of the country” statement during the I-Day speech and said, “He will be hoisting the National Flag once again next year, he will do that at his home.”
Meanwhile, noting that there will be “no compromise” with BJP, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday slammed the ruling party at the Centre, saying its role is to maintain unity in the society but “they are dividing people”.
Pawar, who addressed a press conference, said parties of INDIA bloc will create “janmat” across the country to oust the Narendra Modi government in 2024 Lok Sabha election. “The only focus is to defeat the NDA and remove the Modi government in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
The NCP chief slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the situation in Manipur is worrying but he had not visited the northeast region to build confidence among people.
Pawar also took dig at PM Modi over his remarks from Red Fort that he will present the achievements of his government on the next Independence Day from the same venue.
Sharad Pawar said PM Modi was following Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ ‘I will come back again’ remarks but people have made up their mind to oust the BJP.
“PM Modi’s slogan is bound to fail,” he said. It is a profound statement with eyes on the elections in 2024.
