Picture : Twitter/ ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence day address speech said corruption and nepotism are two main challenges that are not confined to politics alone and asked people to have ‘nafrat’ (hatred) for these evils and focus on ‘Panch Pran’ (five resolves) to ensure a developed India in the next 25 years.
In his ninth consecutive speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, Modi said it was a historic day for India and the completion of 75 years of Independence was a time to step towards a new direction with a new resolve.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went old school in his customary address to the countrymen where he used paper notes for his speech in the national capital
He said in this ‘Amrit Kaal’, every Indian is aspiring to see the fast progress of a new India with enthusiasm and impatience.
“Our nation has proved that we have an inherent strength from our diversity and the common thread of patriotism makes India unshakeable,” Modi said, as he termed India the “mother of democracy”.
#WATCH PM Narendra Modi calls for a decisive fight against corruption and ‘Parivaarwaad’ during his Independence Day speech #IndiaAt75 pic.twitter.com/5xvdSaz4wm
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2022
He also gave a call for setting big resolutions and spelled out “Panch Pran” (five resolves) to fulfil freedom fighters’ dreams for the country at India’s independence centenary by 2047.
He said we should focus on the five pledges –a resolve of developed India; removing any trace of the colonial mindset; taking pride in our legacy; our strength of unity; and fulfilling the duties of citizens with honesty, which should be done by the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers as well.
Wearing a traditional tri-coloured motif safa (headgear) with a long trail, PM Modi then recalled the “architects of free India” who significantly contributed to India’s freedom struggle.
“During our freedom struggle, there was not one year where our freedom fighters did not face brutality and cruelty. Today is the day when, as we pay them our respects, we need to remember their vision and dream for India,” Modi said while addressing the nation from the Red Fort for the ninth consecutive time.
“Our country is grateful to Gandhiji, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Ramprasad Bismil, Rani Laxmi Bai, Subash Chandra Bose, and all other freedom fighters who shook the foundations of the British Empire. We salute not only those who fought for freedom but also the architects of free India such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Ram Manohar Lohia and Sardar Vallabhai Patel, amongst the many others,” the PM said.
Our experience shows that when the nation takes resolve and works together, then it fulfils its goals, he said citing his government’s host of measures, including the fight against COVID-19, electrifying villages and bringing piped water to every household.
He dedicated a big part of his speech to slam corruption, saying it was seen that some people do not have enough space to hide their illicit money while many in the country do not have enough space to live, an obvious pointer to the recovery of the huge amount of allegedly unaccounted cash and other assets during raids at some leaders of opposition parties.
