Highlights From PM Modi Independence Day Speech
August 15, 2020 - India, Latest News
PM Modi said that India was making enormous efforts to stand on its own feet and linked several initiatives taken recently for this effort
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a roadmap for India's growth in his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15.
PM began his address by paying tributes to India's freedom fighters and security personnel and also remembered Aurobindo Ghose, a spiritual philosopher whose birth anniversary fell on August 15.
India faced centuries of foreign rule. All efforts were made to destroy our nation, our culture, our traditions, but they underestimated our self-belief and determination. We lived through it all and emerged victorious in the end.
Those who were busy finding new places to put their flags, who wanted to expand their empire underestimated us. The world saw two world wars and so many nations faced immense destruction, but we rose through it all. Our freedom struggle was seen by the world.
Today, India is working on three COVID-19 vaccines, which are at different stages of trials. Once they are closer to getting final clearances, we will announce a roadmap for distribution.
I admit there are lakhs of challenges for India to become atma-nirbhar (self-reliant), and yes, there is fierce competition from the rest of the world. But I always say that if India faces lakhs of challenges, it also has 130 crore solutions.
As said earlier, we are working to double farmers' income. Some of you may not know this, but unlike any other business, where a businessman has the freedom to sell their product or service in any part of the country or the world and at a price they want, our farmers, till now did not have that freedom. They could only sell to who they were told to sell. Now, we have removed these restrictions, and given farmers the freedom to sell at the best price, and to who they want.
On behalf of the entire nation, I want to thank the efforts of all corona-warriors. All those healthcare workers, doctors and nurses, who have worked tirelessly to serve the nation amid the pandemic. Many have even lost their lives. The nation salutes them.
We have seen that when we put our mind to it, we can achieve anything. We never made PPE kits, our production of masks and ventilators was meagre, but today we are making them all.
As we celebrate the 74th Independence Day, we look forward to the important milestone ahead – our 75th year of Independence. And as we lead up to it, it brings new energy and determination to take the nation forward. When we reach that milestone, we shall celebrate in a grand manner.
Today, we focus on taking India to new heights, to build a new India – an atma nirbhar (self-reliant) India. India will most certainly achieve this. History is evidence to the fact that when India is determined to achieve something, it has always done so. A self-reliant India has now become the mantra for 130 crore Indians.
How long will we export raw material and import finished goods? Time has come that we put this cycle to an end. India must now manufacture everything it consumes, and not just that – export to the world too as we grow.
A large segment of PM Modi's speech focussed on the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' campaign. Under this campaign, PM Modi had previously given a clarion call for not only cutting imports, but also pushing exports of finished Indian products. Additionally, he said that the country now needs to move forward with the mantra of 'Make in India' along with 'make for the world'.
He also highlighted initiatives taken up by his government in the last six year, such as Jal Jeevan Mission.
Additionally, he said that the Centre has set up a committee to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for girls in India.
"We have set up committee to reconsider the minimum age for marriage of our daughters. We will take appropriate decision after the committee submits its report," PM Modi said.
"Whenever women received opportunity, they made India proud and strengthened it. Today, nation is determined to provide equal opportunities of self-employment and employment to them. Today women are working in coal mines, our daughters are touching the sky while flying fighter planes," he added.
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