New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation on the 75th Independence Day on Sunday, here is a look at what the Prime Minister has said in his speeches in the last seven years.
August 15, 2020: 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' was the main focus of the speech on the 74th Independence day, which came against in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister said it has become a mantra for 130 crore Indians. He said in the midst of the Corona pandemic, 130 crore Indians pledged themselves to become self-reliant and India is witnessing the realization of that dream of Self-Reliant India (“AatmaNirbharBharat”). He had also mentioned the Ladakh face-off and without mentioning China said our jawans replied in the language of the enemy. He had also mentioned the New Education Policy, self-reliant agriculture, and announced the launch of the national digital health mission.
2019: In his first speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort after coming into power for the second time, and days after the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said one nation, one constitution spirit had become a reality. It was less than ten weeks since the new government was formed, and the Prime Minister said several path-breaking decisions had been taken. He said by reading down Article 370, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's dream has been fulfilled. He announced India will have a new Chief of Defence Staff soon. He also talked about Triple talaq, which was banned by the government. He had also said that wealth creators should not be seen with suspicion. The Prime Minister also gave a call to free India from single-use plastic and use digital payment.
2018: The Prime Minister said people of the country were impatient to take India to new heights. He talked about social justice and mentioned a Bill to create an OBC Commission, cleared by Parliament. Mr Modi had also said that the demand for higher MSP was pending for years and his government increased it. He had mentioned the Goods and Services Tax and thanked the business community for the success of the GST, and also mentioned One Rank One Pension. He also said India's voice is being heard effectively on the world stage.The Prime Minister also mentioned Jammu and Kashmir and had said the government does not want to move on the road of bullets and abuses, but move ahead with love and affection with the Kashmiri people who have stood with us in patriotic fervor.
2017: In his speech, the Prime Minister had said that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had shown the spirit of cooperative federalism. He said India had five years before the 75th year of Independence and called for united resolve, strength, and determination to work hard for a New India by 2022. Jammu and Kashmir found mention in the speech as well, and the Prime Minister said the war against separatism spread by a handful of people would be solved neither by abuse or bullets – it will be solved by embracing all Kashmiris. He had also talked about demonetisation and said when it was announced, the world was surprised but the countrymen showed patience and faith.
2016: The Prime Minister had focused on good governance and called for moving from "swaraj" to "surajya". Mr Modi said the government should be accountable and it was equally important to lay emphasis on transparency for good governance. He said Sardar Patel gave us ‘Ek Bharat’, and asked citizens to resolve for ‘Sreshtha Bharat’. He also talked about the Jan Dhan Yojana.
2015: Mr Modi had said India's strength lies in its unity. He said there was no place for casteism and communalism and these have to be defeated through development. He said all government programmes should be helpful for the poor; and said the government will empower the poor through financial inclusion. He also talked about the Swachh Bharat program, removing corruption, improving agricultural productivity, and had indicated the demand for OROP being accepted.
2014: In his first speech from Red Fort as the Prime Minister, Modi had called the Red Fort the strength of India's democracy and an invaluable legacy that we have inherited from our architects of the constitution. He said he was an 'outsider' and in Delhi, dozens of separate governments were running at the same time in one main government. He mentioned how newspapers were reporting about government officers going to work on time. He announced the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana for the first time and launching the Swachh Bharat program on October 2 that year. He had also announced the Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana'. Mr Modi had defended scrapping of the Planning Commission and said it would be replaced by a new institution, which came up in the form of Niti Aayog.
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