Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tricolour from the Red Fort commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of Azad Hind Government, reports Times of India. Traditionally, PM hoists flag on the Red Fort on 15 August but the event was planned by Indian National Army survivors and Netaji’s grandnephew, West Bengal BJP vice-president, Chandra Kumar Bose and the corresponding request was sent to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister paid his tribute to Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and said that Bose had promised a prosperous nation which was proud of its traditions with development in all the areas. “He had promised to uproot divide and rule. Even after so many years, these dreams remain unfulfilled”, he said. Prime Minister Modi also displayed strength and resolve to deal with enemies of the nation. Modi said it has been the Indian tradition not to eye someone else's territory, "but when our sovereignty is challenged, we will hit back with double the force", as quoted by Economic Times. He exhorted the citizens to fight and defeat the forces which are working against the country’s unity, constitution and independence, adding that a feeling of nationalism and "Indianness" is must to counter such designs. The government is working towards equipping the armed forces with better technology and latest weapons. Measures are also taken to extend better facilities to the soldiers, PM said adding "We are heading towards building an army which was once envisioned by Netaji.”<doc-sep>NEW DELHI: In a veiled attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that to keep "one family" above the rest, efforts were made to forget the contributions leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel , Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose made in the Independence struggle. "But now our government is changing all that," he said while addressing an event at the historic Red Fort to mark the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the ' Azad Hind Sarkar' by Bose.Donning the famous Azad Hind Fauj cap, the Prime Minister hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort and unveiled a plaque to mark the anniversary.The plaque will be placed at barrack number three at the Red Fort where members of the Azad Hind Fauj faced trial. A museum will be also set up in the barrack.Modi lamented that post Independence, India's policies were based on the British system as "things were seen through British glasses". "Policies, including those related to education had to suffer because of this," he said.Modi said had India benefited from the guidance of Patel and Bose, things would have been much better. He said his government is changing that now. "In an effort to highlight the role of one family, efforts were made to deliberately ignore and forget contributions made by others in the independence struggle, and later in creating a new India," he said. These leaders included Sardar Patel, Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose, the prime minister added.He said while Bose focused on the East and Northeast India , the two regions did not get due recognition.Now, he said, his government is working to make the Northeast the "engine of growth".Hailing Bose's spirit of nationalism, Modi said as a 16-year old, he was aggrieved at the plight of India under the British rule. "His ideology was nationalism, he lived by nationalism," the PM said.<doc-sep>In a first, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort in New Delhi on Sunday morning to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Azad Hind government formed by freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The Azad Hind government was raised by Netaji during the freedom movement. The decision to hoist the national flag at the Red Fort has reportedly been taken because it was the same place where soldiers of the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) faced trials by the British. Speaking at the event, the prime minister hit out at the Congress and alleged that the contribution of leaders such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, BR Ambedkar and Sardar Patel have been "obliterated" in mainstream Indian discourse to "magnify the presence of one family". Netaji had promised an India where everyone has equal rights&equal opportunities. He had promised a prosperous nation which was proud of its traditions, development in all areas. He had promised to uproot 'divide & rule'. Even after so many yrs those dreams remain unfulfilled: PM pic.twitter.com/SwrxDR54d0 ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2018 Modi recalled that while remembering his days at Cambridge, Bose, who had founded the Azad Hind Fauj, wrote that: "Indians are taught that Europe is a bigger picture of the Great Britain and because of this our habit is to look at Europe from an English perspective." Modi said: "It has been our misfortune that even after independence, those who laid the foundation of India and our system, looked at India from an English spectacle. Our heritage, culture, education system, our curriculum have all suffered from this. "Today I can say this with certainty that if our nation was guided by the likes of Subhas Bose and Sardar Patel, if it was not looked at from a foreign perspective, then the situation of the country would be much different. It is sad that just to magnify the presence of one family, sons of India -- Patel, Ambedkar and Bose -- have been obliterated from our national discourse." ALSO READ | Is Modi's love for Mahatma Gandhi for real? He said his government is committed to change this. "The country's overall development was an important aspect of Bose's vision and the NDA government is going in the direction as envisioned by Bose," he said. Meanwhile, in terms of political optics, this is being seen as an attempt by the BJP to stake claim to the legacy of Netaji after doing so for BR Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Interacting with BJP workers via video-conference on Wednesday, Modi had announced his plans to attend the ceremony. Traditionally, the prime minister hoists the national tricolour at the historic Red Fort on Independence Day on August 15. According to a report by news agency PTI, Modi in his address said BJP respects everybody who served the country, irrespective of party affiliation. He reportedly said that his government celebrates the contributions of many great personalities who were "neglected" by the Congress in its rule of several decades. "While the Congress neglected the likes of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the BJP believed in remembering everybody who contributed to nation-building," he said. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of a museum dedicated to the Azad Hind Fauj. On October 21, 1943, Bose had announced the formation of the country's first independent government which was called the Azad Hind government. (With inputs from PTI and IANS) ALSO WATCH | Netaji should be at par with Gandhiji, demands grand nephew Chandra Bose<doc-sep>PM Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hoisted the national flag at Delhi’s Red Fort to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of the government of 'free India'. The prime minister hoisted the Tiranga and unveiled the plaque to celebrate anniversary of the Azad Hind government, inspired and headed by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Union Minister Mahesh Sharma and Indian National Army (INA) veteran RS Chhikara among others were also present at the event. Important excerpts from PM Modi's speech: In last 4 years, several measures were taken to strengthen the defence. Best technologies were brought to the defence. This government has strength to make big and tough decisions, it'll continue. Be it surgical strike or making the files of Netaji public, decision was taken by our government: PM Modi We have reached 'Swaraj' after lakhs of sacrifices. It's our responsibility to maintain this 'Swaraj' with 'Suraaj': PM Modi We have fulfilled our promise of One Rank One Pension: PM Modi Netaji had promised an India where everyone has equal rights and equal opportunities. He had promised a prosperous nation which was proud of its traditions, development in all areas. He had promised to uproot 'divide & rule'. Even after so many years those dreams remain unfulfilled: PM Modi In order to make one family great, other families were ignored: PM Modi Subhas Chandra Bose is an inspiration for all of us: PM Modi Subhas Chandra Bose had only one aim in mind, to free mother India from British rule: PM Modi Azad Hind government was the government of every Indian: PM Modi PM Modi hoists Tricolor at Red Fort The prime minister also laid the foundation stone for a museum dedicated to the Azad Hind Fauj or the INA. Public and visitors were not allowed at the Red Fort till the function was over. The Azad Hind government was founded on October 21, 1943 and was inspired by the ideals of Subhas Chandra Bose. It was a part of the freedom movement which originated in 1940s outside India with a purpose of allying with axis powers to free India from the British rule. WATCH VIDEO: PM Modi attends commemoration of 75th Anniversary of Azad Hind Government Latest India News<doc-sep>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled national flag at Red Fort to mark 75th anniversary of the proclamation of ‘Azad Hind government’ headed by Subhash Chandra Bose. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unfurled the national flag at the Red Fort to mark the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of ‘Azad Hind government’ headed by Subhash Chandra Bose. Donning the famous Azad Hind Fauj cap, the Prime Minister also unveiled a plaque to mark the anniversary. Traditionally, the prime minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort on Independence Day. PM Modi used the event to attack the Nehru-Gandhi family and said that to keep "one family" above the rest, efforts were made to forget the contributions leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose made in the Independence struggle. "But now our government is changing all that," the prime minister said. "In an effort to highlight the role of one family, efforts were made to deliberately ignore and forget contributions made by others in the independence struggle, and later in creating a new India," he said. These leaders included Sardar Patel, Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose, the Prime Minister added. Addressing the event, PM Modi said, “Netaji had promised an India where everyone has equal rights and equal opportunities. He had promised a prosperous nation which was proud of its traditions, development in all areas. He had promised to uproot 'divide & rule'”. However, “even after so many years, those dreams remain unfulfilled”, he added. Prime Minister also said, “We have attained 'Swaraj' after lakhs of sacrifices. It is our responsibility to maintain this 'Swaraj' with 'Suraaj'”. He said while Bose focused on the East and Northeast India, the two regions did not get due recognition. Now, he said, his government is working to make the Northeast the "engine of growth". Hailing Bose's spirit of nationalism, PM Modi said as a 16-year old, he was aggrieved at the plight of India under the British rule. "His ideology was nationalism, he lived by nationalism," he said. Hailing the BJP-led Centre, PM Modi said that the government made big and tough decisions to strengthen defence sector. “In last 4 years, several measures were taken to strengthen the defence. Best technologies were brought to the defence. This government has strength to make big and tough decisions, it'll continue. Be it surgical strike or making the files of Netaji public, decision was taken by our government,” he said. The plaque unveiled by the PM Modi will be placed at barrack number three at the Red Fort where members of the Azad Hind Fauj faced trial. A museum will be also set up in the barrack. According to reports, the decision to hoist the national flag at the Red Fort was taken in August this year by a group of Netaji followers and family members, including his grand-nephew and BJP Bengal vice-president Chandra Kumar Bose. They had then requested the PM to join them in the celebrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced his decision to attend the ceremony during an interaction with BJP workers via video-conference. Accusing the Congress of neglecting the contributions of many great personalities towards India’s freedom, PM Modi said that the BJP respects everybody who served the country, irrespective of party affiliation. (With PTI inputs)