Rama Krishna Sangem
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, Tuesday, joined two other PMs of India who delivered their 10th Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, Delhi. In his 90 minutes long speech – that started at 7.33 am to 9.03 am, the PM touched upon a range of issues – from his government’s achievements in the last nine years to his vision for the coming five years and his dreams for India by 2047.
What stood out prominently among them all is his confidence of coming as PM to Red Fort to unfurl the national on August 15, 2024 too. That means, he is aiming to win a hat-trick in next year’s Lok Sabha elections and serve as the PM for one more term – till 2029. This way, PM Modi has announced his PM candidacy even before his BJP and NDA passed an official resolution later this year.
Another interesting feat of PM Modi is that he became the third Indian PM to have addressed from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15 for 10th time. So far, only Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi are the other PMs who made it to the select club. That Modi has unfurled tricolour from the ramparts of Red Fort for 10th year shows the amount of political stability he has brought in the country.
Lashed out at Opposition paries
PM Modi attired in red-yellow turban, delivered a Hindi speech that highlighted his government’s policies and their results since 2014, while attacking the opposition parties terming them as unfit to rule the country. “We need to fight “Bhrastachar”, “Parivarwadi” aur “Tushteekaran” (corruption, family ruled parties and appeasement policies),” said PM Modi.
On his achievements, he mentioned a long list that covered self-reliant police of him on sectors like semiconductors to green hydrogen, Chandrayaan to urea supply, women empowerment to tribal welfare, para Olympics medals to vaccine manufacturing, from free rice distribution to millions during the pandemic to exports to several countries. At the sae time, he outlined his vision for the coming five years too.
PM Modi who claimed to have kept his word he gave from Red Fort in 2014 that he would improve India’s condition on the international arena, promised to do the same again next year too – on August 15, 2024 – he would further list out other achievements of him. One big promise he made it today is India becoming World’s No 3 economy in terms of GDP by 2028-29.
“I’m your servant, my life is to serve you”
PM Modi made an attempt to project himself as a servant of the nation. “My life is for you, I’m your servant and would like to serve you,” said he. At the same time, Modi tried to infuse patriotic fervor among people by saying that the days are gone when one has to die for the country. Now, it is enough to live for the country so that one can bring changes that are required.
Opposition criticizes Modi
Congress president and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the PM for using Independence Day speech to attack the oppposition parties. “To claim that he would unfurl the national flag next year also is nothing but a sign of arrogance,” said Kharge. Kharge, who absented from the Red Fort event unfurled the tricolour at AICC office later.
