Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his fifth Independence Day speech as Prime Minister, from the ramparts of Red Fort.
His Independence Day speech will be live-streamed on the Google homepage. Google had done a similar thing during the Donald Trump’s inaugural address in January last year.
Modi kicks off Independence Day speech
After unfurling the tricolour at Red Fort, PM Modi kicks off his last Independence Day address before the Lok Sabha election in 2019.
He says,
My beloved Indians, I wish you a Happy 72nd Independence Day.
I salute the women of India. Our daughters have crossed all seven seas and have coloured the world in tricolour.
I salute the children of tribals who unfurled the national flag on Mount Everest and made India proud.
PM Modi arrives at Red Fort
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Red Fort, accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Earlier, he paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
Health scheme to be announced
Mr. Modi is expected to announce the pilot launch of the Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme in his last Independence Day address before the Lok Sabha election in 2019.
Shaurya Chakra for Major Aditya, Aurangzeb
Major Aditya Kumar who fired on a stone-throwing mob, and rifleman Aurangzeb who was abducted and killed by terrorists, both in Jammu and Kashmir, were selected for the Shaurya Chakra on the eve of Independence Day.