As India's celebrates its 71st Independence Day, watch out for 'Freedom Song' - The Hindu's special edition as India celebrates the 70th anniversary of its independence.
Latest updates from the Red Fort:
7.455 am: PM Modi talks about 'gali' (abuse) and 'goli' (bullet) with respect to the Kashmir issue. He says the issue if Kashmir cannot be solved by abuse or by bullets. "It can be solved only by embracing Kashmiris," he says. We are committed to transform J&K back to the paradise it was," he says.
7.50 am: PM Modi talks about GST: "GST has shown the spirit of cooperative federalism. The nation has come together to support GST & the role of technology has also helped. It has been a feat of technology and a complete success."
7.48 am: PM Modi brings up the surgical strikes, says India's security is priority. "When surgical stirkes were carried out, the world came to know about the power that India possess. India is capable of dealing with all kinds of threats, whether internal or external," he says.
He also lauds the Armed Forces and the effort they put in to protect the country. He touches on 'one rank one pension'. "We made 'One Rank One Pension applicable to our security forces and made them more courageous," he says.
7.45 am: "Chalta hai ka zamana chala gaya," says PM Modi. He says the attitude of "it's fine" and "let it go" needs to be let go. Instead, we need to adapt the attitude of change, he says.
7.40 am: PM Modi talks about creating a "new India", says we have to take the country ahead with that determination. "In our nation, there is no one big or small...everybody is equal. Together we can bring a positive change in the nation," he says. He mentions the 75th year of Independence in 2022 and says we will move forward to that milestone with the oath of "new India".
"1st January 2018 will not be an ordinary day - those born in this century will start turning 18. They are Bhagya Vidhatas of our nation," he says.
7.36 am: This year is a special year for India. This is the 75th anniversary of Quit India, 100th anniversary of Champaran Satyagraha, 125th anniversary of Ganesh Utsav, says PM Modi.
7.35 am: PM Modi begins his address by wishing the nation on the occasion of the nation's 71st Independence Day. "We also had the honour of celebrating Janmashtami yesterday," he says.
We remember the great women and men who worked hard for India's freedom, he says. He brings up the Gorakhpur tragedy, terms the deaths "one of the crises" confronted by the country recently. "People of India stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected due to natural disasters & the tragedy in Gorakhpur," he says.
7.30 am: PM hoists the national flag, to address the nation shortly.
7.15 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches the Red Fort, inspects the guard of honour.