Picture : Twitter/ ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi exuded confidence that he will address the nation from the Red Fort next year to list out the progress on the promises he had made to the people.
“The promise for change brought me here, my performance brought me here once again. The coming five years are of unprecedented development and a golden moment to realise the dream of India as a developed nation by 2047,” the Prime Minister said in his speech from the ramparts of Red Fort.
“Next year, on August 15 from this same Red Fort I will list out the progress achieved by the nation and sing paeans to your strength, your resolve and your success with greater confidence,” Modi said in his last Independence Day address before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
#WATCH | …”Chalta chalata kaal chakra, Amrit kaal ka bhaal chakra, sabke sapne apne sapne, panpe sapne saare, dheer chale veer chale, chale yuva humare, neeti sahi reeti naayi, gati sahi raah nayi, chuno chunauti seena taan, jag mein badhao desh ka naam…” PM Modi on 77th… pic.twitter.com/o6KUmBe0Mt
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2023
PM Modi , speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 77th Independence Day, said “If the dreams are to be fulfilled, the resolutions are to be achieved, then it is the need of the hour to fight the three evils of corruption, nepotism and appeasement”
The first evil, the Prime Minister said, is corruption that is at the root of all the problems of our country. “Freedom from corruption, fight against corruption in every area and in every sector is the need of the hour. And countrymen, my dear family members, this is Modi’s commitment; it is my personal commitment that I will continue to fight against corruption”, said the Prime Minister.
Secondly, dynastic politics has destroyed our country, said the Prime Minister. He continued “this dynastic system had gripped the country and snatched away the rights of the people of the country.”
The third evil, Modi emphasized, is appeasement. “This appeasement has also stained the basic thinking of the country, our harmonious national character. These people destroyed everything. And therefore, we must fight against these three evils with all our might. Corruption, nepotism and appeasement; these challenges have flourished which suppressed the aspirations of the people of our country.”
These evils, he said, rob our country of whatever abilities some people have. “These are the things that put a question mark on the hopes and aspirations of our people. Be it our poor, be it Dalit, be it backward, be it Pasmanda communities, be it our tribal brothers and sisters, or be it our mothers or sisters, we all have to get rid of these three evils for their rights.
Attacking corruption menace, the Prime Minister said “we must create an atmosphere of aversion towards corruption. There can be no bigger filth than this in public life.” The Prime Minister talked about using technology to combat corruption. He informed how 10 crore fake beneficiaries were removed from various schemes and also the confiscation of the 20 times worth of property of financial absconders.
Regarding nepotism and dynasties, the Prime Minister lamented that dynastic political parties are of the family, by the family and for the family and this kills talent. “It is imperative that democracy gets rid of this evil, ” he said.
India has gained new strategic strength in recent years and its borders are now more secure than ever, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday even as he highlighted efforts to modernise the military and make it “young and battle ready” to confront future challenges.
In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort, Modi also reiterated his government’s unwavering resolve to ensure national security amid the current global security scenario.
“India has gained a new strategic strength in recent years and today our borders are more secure than ever,” Modi said.
He said a number of military reforms are being undertaken to modernise the armed forces and make them young and battle ready to deal with the future challenges.
The government last year rolled out the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the short-term induction of soldiers. The scheme is aimed at bringing down the age profile of the three services.
Under the Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14 last year, the three services are recruiting youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
For 2022, the upper age limit was extended to 23 years.
The prime minister also emphasised that the people of the country feel safe today as there has been a drastic decline in the number of terrorist attacks.
When the country is peaceful and secure, new goals of development are achieved, he said.
The prime minister also referred to the ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme and said it was implemented by his government as soon as it came to power.
“The OROP was a matter of respect for the soldiers of our country. We implemented it when we came to power. Rs 70,000 crore have reached the ex-servicemen and their families today,” he added.
Modi extended the Independence Day wishes to the Armed Forces personnel at the borders, who ensure that the country is secured and its interests are safeguarded. In the last few years, the government has taken a series of measures to bolster the combat capabilities of the armed forces.
A series of initiatives were taken to enhance the country’s military prowess following the border row with China in eastern Ladakh.
The government has also been focusing on strengthening the border infrastructure in the last few years.
On Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India has always been a peace-loving nation, but that does not mean that it would spare those who cast an evil eye on it.
In his address, Modi also referred to the Vibrant village programme.
“We have started a program of Vibrant Border Village in the border villages of our country. Till now the vibrant border village was said to be the last village of the country,” he said.
“We have changed the whole thinking. It is not the last village of the country, the one visible on the border is the first village of my country,” he added.
