Droupadi Murmu delivers her maiden address to nation on August 14, 2022. (Photo: Youtube@President of India)Independence Day Live Updates, August 14: On the eve of India’s 75th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation and said, “We Indians proved skeptics wrong. Democracy not only grew roots in this soil, it was enriched too.” She also said that India helped the world discover true potential of democracy. She also said that in celebrating Independence Day, we celebrate our ‘Bharatiyata’.
The country is gearing up to celebrate 75 years of Independence, with over 20 crore flags expected to be atop houses across India. As part of the celebrations, monuments and significant places across states were lit up in the Tricolour, while entry to sites protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was made free from August 5 to August 15.
At the Red Fort, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Independence Day, a multi-layered security cover along with Facial Recognition System cameras have been installed at each entry/exit point. Security personnel also deployed trained catchers to ensure that the premises remain monkey-free during the day. As many as 231 regular kite-flyers from the walled city area were roped in by the police to ensure a clear sky for about three hours on the morning of August 15. This year, the BJP government launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign as part of its ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. The party-led governments in several states have been distributing flags and setting targets to manufacture the Tricolour.
Dress rehearsal for the 75th Independence Day at Manekshaw Parade Grounds, in Bengaluru. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)
The CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police were decorated with the maximum gallantry awards for undertaking counter-terrorist operations in the Union Territory as the Centre announced various service medals for a total of 1,082 personnel on the occasion of Independence Day. The Union Home ministry issued the roll of honour on Sunday, the eve of 76th Independence Day, for the personnel of all the state police forces as well as the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
The decorations include a total of 347 police medal for gallantry (PMG), 87 President's police medal for distinguished service and 648 police medals for meritorious service. Under the PMG category of medals, 204 personnel are being awarded for their gallant action in Jammu and Kashmir, 80 for displaying bravery in Left Wing Extremism or Naxal violence-affected areas and 14 personnel for showing bravery in North-East Region, the home ministry said. (PTI)
Adding to the security measures taken as part of India’s Independence Day celebrations on August 15, DRDO has deployed its indigenously counter-drone system near the Red Fort area in Delhi on August 14. The counter-drone will tackle any potential threat from small drones in the national capital.
A video blaming the Congress and Indian Communists for Partition and Jawaharlal Nehru’s photo missing from a Karnataka government advertisement on Sunday triggered sharp responses from the grand old party, which accused the ruling party of disrespecting those who lost their lives during Partition and nursing “unending hatred” for India’s first prime minister.
Sharing the video on its Twitter account on the second Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, the BJP wrote, “Those who had no knowledge of India’s cultural heritage, civilisation, values, pilgrimage sites drew up a border in three weeks between people who had been living together for centuries. Where were the people who at the time had the responsibility of fighting against these divisive forces?” (Read more)
In her maiden address to nation as the President of India on the eve of Independence Day, Droupadi Murmu said India can be credited for helping world discover true potential of democracy. She said the world has seen new India rising in recent years and the country has proved the skeptics wrong.
Here are the top quotes from President Droupadi Murmu’s speech today:
1. India can be credited to have helped world discover true potential of democracy. (Read more)
President Droupadi Murmu in her Independence day address said that in celebrating Independence Day, we celebrate our ‘Bharatiyata’.
"India is full of diversity. But, we all also have something in common. It is this common thread that binds us together and inspires us to walk together with the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat', she added.
The President concluded her address by wishing Indians all around the globe a "happy and prosperous" 75th Independence day.
President Droupadi Murmu in her address ahead of the 75th Independence day praised the Government and the policy-makers for "beating global trend and helping economy flourish."
She said, "Government and policy-makers deserve credit for beating global trend and helping economy flourish." (PTI)
President Droupadi Murmu in her address also talked about the reducing gender inequalities in India. She said, “In most other well-established democracies, women had to wage long-drawn struggles to get right to vote. But India can be credited to have helped world discover true potential of democracy... Our daughters are the biggest hope for the nation.”
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President Droupadi Murmu in her address also talked about the reducing gender inequalities in India. She said, "Gender inequalities are reducing, women are breaking many glass ceilings.
"our daughters are the biggest hope for nation," the President added.
On the eve of India's 75th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu is addressing the nation. During her speech, she said, "We Indians proved skeptics wrong. Democracy not only grew roots in this soil, it was enriched too." She also said that India helped the world discover true potential of democracy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders on Sunday paid homage to those who lost their lives during the Partition as the Congress accused the ruling party of using the traumatic events as a "fodder" for its political battles. On the 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day', Modi paid tributes to all those who lost their lives during the Partition violence and applauded the resilience and grit of those who suffered during the tragedy.
He had announced last year that August 14 will be observed as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' in memory of the struggles and sacrifices of people. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said "inhuman" chapter of India's history can never be forgotten.
The Congress, however, alleged that the real intent of PM Modi to mark August 14 as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' is to use the traumatic events as "fodder" for his current political battles. Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said the tragedy of Partition cannot be misused to fuel hate and prejudice. (PTI)
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said with the initiative of installing 500 high mast national flags across the national capital, Delhi has become the 'City of Tricolours'. He was speaking at an event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India's independence. The chief minister also asked everyone to pledge to make India the number 1 country in the world.
During his speech he also reminiscenced Dr BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh. He said, "I want to remember two great persons today. Both of them fought for this country and died for this country. Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, fought for India's freedom, oppressed Dalits one side and gave us the world's best constitution. Other great person is Bhagat Singh who at the age of 23 fought and sacrificed his life for the country." (PTI/ENS)
NRIs living in Germany held a ‘Tiranga Parade’ in Hamburg Saturday. More than 200 people participated in the event, which was organised by the Indo-German Business Forum.
“We do celebrate Independence Day of India in Germany every year but that is done indoors. This time, we organised the Tiranga Parade and walked for 2km holding the national flag of India while singing patriotic songs,” said Parmod Kumar, one of the main organisers who hails from Ludhiana in Punjab but has been living in Hamburg for over 30 years now. (Read more)
Rajasthan's famous folk artiste Rahis Bharti will perform with his Dhod Band in Budapest, Hungary, on August 15 on the occasion of Independence Day. Bharti said the Embassy of India in Hungary has invited him and the band to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country's independence.
According to Bharti, he will also perform with his band at Sziget Festival, one of the largest music and cultural festivals of Europe, on the same day.
"I am feeling very proud to represent India and perform on the 75th year of Independence Day for Indians in Budapest. It is also an honour for the Dhoad Band to represent India at the Sziget festival in Europe,” he said over phone from Budapest. (PTI)
The Ghadar freedom movement was started in 1914 after the formation of Ghadar Party in 1913 at San Francisco in the US by Indians settled in North America. Its aim was clear: to free India from the British rule. Though the movement could not succeed, its leaders inspired many freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh. The youngest Ghadarite, Kartar Singh Sarabha, was hanged in 1915 at the age of 19 in the 1st Lahore conspiracy case.
“Partition: Stories of Separation” is clearly a passion project for the musical diva that is Sonam Kalra. “Ever since I was a young girl, I’ve heard stories about the Partition. Both sides of my family came from the part of Punjab that is now in Pakistan. My mother’s family was from Rawalpindi and my father’s from Sargoda. Even though I didn’t have to live through the pain of Partition myself, I have always been moved to tears when talking about it with someone. I’ve often wondered why I should feel so deeply about it — perhaps it lies embedded in the memory of my DNA. And, perhaps, it is this pain that has led me to question this further,” she says. Read Suvir Saran's report here
As India celebrates its 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, like every year, will address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15.
This will be his ninth consecutive Independence Day address. Modi’s speech is likely to begin at around 7.30 am after he unfurls the Tricolour at the Red Fort. His address will be broadcast live by Doordarshan, while the Press Information Bureau (PIB) will stream the speech on its YouTube channel and on its Twitter handle.
The official YouTube channel of the Prime Minister’s Office will also air the address and the Twitter handle would provide live updates of the speech. Read more
As India prepares to celebrate 75 years of Independence on Monday, August 15, places of significance in various cities across the country have been illuminated with Tricolour.
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