80th Independence Day: The Nation is celebrating its 80th Independence Day today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations from the iconic Red Fort in Delhi. Upon his arrival, for the first time, the national song Vande Mataram was rendered at the Red Fort.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister hoisted the National Flag, following which the national anthem was sung. The hoisting of the National Flag was synchronised with the 21-gun salute, and flower petals were showered by two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force. The celebrations this year also commemorate Yuva Shakti, acknowledging the contribution of young India in building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi said that for the first time since Independence, Vande Mataram is echoing from the Red Fort. He said, in recent days, some parts of the country have witnessed severe floods and landslides, affecting many families. The Prime Minister assured all the affected families that the entire nation stands firmly with them. He said, a nation becomes great when it moves forward on the strength of its resolve and capabilities.
Prime Minister Modi said that over the past twelve years, crores of citizens of the country, with their determination and dedication, made every possible effort to take the country to new heights. He said, due to these efforts, 25 crore people have come out of poverty. He said, India which was once among the Fragile Five economies has now emerged as a major and the fastest-growing economy in the world. Mr Modi said that India has set a big goal, to become a developed nation by 2047.
Highlighting the achievements made in different sectors, the Prime Minister said, over the past 12 years, defence production has increased nearly four-fold, Khadi and Village Industries production grew by nearly five-fold, electronic manufacturing nearly seven-fold, modern railway coach manufacturing 21-fold, and mobile phone manufacturing increased by 33-fold. He said, internet users increased by nearly four-fold and digital transactions by 100 times.
Mr Modi said, the NDA government has worked with equal seriousness towards the welfare and amenities for the common man. He said, the nation has also brought monumental transformations in governance as thousands of compliances were eliminated and hundreds of outdated laws were repealed.
Prime Minister Modi said that India has successfully overcome several unprecedented crises while progressing towards the goal of a developed nation by 2047. He recalled the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. He said, during these crises, several predictions and rumours were spread to create fear among the people about shortages of vaccines, fuel, gas, diesel and fertilizers.
Mr. Modi added that India’s well-planned policies, preparations and proactive measures helped the country face these challenges effectively. Prime Minister said the government’s approach, guided by the principle of Nagrik Devo Bhava, ensured that arrangements made during the past decade proved effective in times of crisis. He said that today the country has adequate supplies of gas, petrol and urea, and is moving ahead with confidence on the strength of its own capabilities.
The Prime Minister said every nation around the world has turned towards managing and safeguarding its own interests but unfortunately, during this period of crisis, some nations have played the game of weaponising resources to flaunt their dominance, be it petrol, diesel and fertilizers. The Prime Minister emphasised that, in such challenging times, if the country had not followed the right path over the past decade, guided by the mantra of Atmanirbharta, it is difficult to imagine how India would have faced and overcome such monumental challenges.
Prime Minister Modi said that many times, a country does not stop because of a lack of resources but stops because of the limitations of its thinking. He said, today, India has to depend on crude oil, and this is also a result of the limitations of thinking. He said the government has opened up 99 per cent of offshore areas that were once designated as no-go zones and converted them into go-ahead areas. He said the government is now actively pursuing exploration beneath the sea and making efforts to discover new reserves.
