In his last speech before the 2024 elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he will present a report on the country’s achievements on August 15th. He emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. Speaking from the Red Fort, Modi talked about the negative effects of corruption and urged the nation to stand against it.
Modi wore a traditional Rajasthani bandhani print turban along with an off-white kurta and churidar for the Independence Day celebrations. He was welcomed by defense minister Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries before delivering his speech.
This year’s Independence Day marks the end of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations initiated by Modi in March 2021. It signifies the nation’s transition into a golden era.
Here are the key highlights from PM Modi’s speech:
1. Modi denounced corruption, nepotism, and appeasement as detrimental forces that have hindered the nation’s progress. He emphasized the need to promote qualities like probity, transparency, and objectivity for India’s development.
2. Modi expressed the government’s commitment to transform India into a developed country by 2047, coinciding with the nation’s centenary of independence. He believes that India has the strength to influence the global order after the Covid pandemic and create a promising “New India” in the next five years.
3. Modi called for peace in Manipur and expressed solidarity with its people. He highlighted the importance of peace in resolving disputes and mentioned efforts by both the central and Manipur governments to restore peace in the state.
4. Modi reiterated that ‘Nation First’ is the cornerstone of his government’s policies. He credited the support of the people who elected his government in 2014 and 2019 for his ability to carry out reforms.
5. Modi emphasized that India’s progress is unstoppable and noted its influence in shaping the global landscape after World War II. He believes that India’s 1.4 billion citizens can contribute to the evolving global order in the post-Covid era.
6. Modi announced plans to address inflation more comprehensively and alleviate the burden of rising prices on the population. He acknowledged the challenge of importing inflation but mentioned the government’s measures to control it.
7. Modi applauded the contribution of women’s self-help groups and announced their training in drone operation and repair. This initiative aims to involve them in agriculture through the use of agricultural drones, starting with 15,000 women’s self-help groups.
8. Modi launched the Vishwakarma Yojana, providing an initial budget of ₹13,000-₹15,000 crore to support individuals with traditional skills. The scheme was introduced in the 2023 budget.
9. Modi highlighted India’s leadership in combatting climate change and mentioned the “Life Mission” initiative to curb wasteful resource consumption. He presented India’s approach to addressing climate change as a model for the world.
10. Modi mentioned the upcoming scheme to provide relief in bank loans for urban housing aspirations, recalling the inauguration of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) in 2015 as a flagship government initiative.
