Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a 103-minute Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the longest by any prime minister in India’s history.
His longest Independence Day speech before 2024 was 96 minutes in 2016 while his shortest speech was in 2017 when he spoke for 56 minutes.
On India’s 79th Independence Day, Modi also broke Indira Gandhi’s record by delivering 12 consecutive speeches from Red Fort to stand next only to Jawaharlal Nehru who delivered 17 Independence Day addresses in a row.
Modi delivered his first Independence Day speech in 2014, which lasted 65 minutes.
His speech in 2015 lasted for 88 minutes. In 2018, Modi address from the ramparts of the Red Fort was 83 minutes. Subsequently, in 2019, he spoke for nearly 92 minutes.
Amid uncertainty over the next round of talks with the United States on a proposed trade pact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he will stand like a wall to protect the interests of farmers and fishermen and India will never compromise on their interests.
The remarks are important as the US is seeking duty concessions from India in agriculture and dairy sectors in the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), being negotiated between the two countries.
The US has imposed steep tariffs on India. Trump has ratcheted up tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, which will come into effect from August 27. At present, 25 per cent tariffs are there on Indian goods entering American market.
“Modi is standing like a wall against any harmful policy related to the farmers, fishermen and cattle rearers of India. India will never accept any compromise regarding its farmers, its livestock rearers, its fishermen,” he said while addressing the nation on the 79th Independence Day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed 100 years of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a “very proud and glorious” journey of the “world’s biggest NGO” and saluted all its volunteers for their dedicated service to the nation.
Later Modi announced a project to develop an indigenous air-defence system to protect India’s vital military and civilian installations and deliver a decisive response to any enemy threat, a move that came amid concerns over security challenges emanating from Pakistan and China.
In his Independence-Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi, Modi also hinted at New Delhi’s resolve to reduce dependence on foreign technologies for military platforms as he called for the development of jet engines within the country for India’s fighter aircraft.
