Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort on the 72nd Independence Day, his fifth and final speech before the general elections next year. In a soaring speech that encapsulated myriad achievements of the government in the last four years and unfurled new dreams, PM Modi promised that India will send a son or daughter to the space with the national flag in hand by 2022 and announced a pathbreaking national health care scheme that will cover half a billion Indians. Here are some key highlights of his speech:
“We are celebrating the 72nd Independence Day in a positive atmosphere. Our daughters have crossed seven seas and coloured the seas in the colours of our flag,we want to progress more and there is no question of stopping or getting tired on the way,we are celebrating this Independence Day when every Indian anywhere in the world is proud that India is the sixth biggest economy in the world today. India used to be counted in the ‘Fragile Five’ in the world. But today, India is a multi-billion dollar investment. The narrative changed.”
“The recently concluded Parliament session was one devoted to social justice. The Parliament session witnessed the passage of the Bill to create an Other Backward Class (OBC) Commission. When 1.25 billion dreams go towards a goal, there’s nothing that cannot happen. In 2014, the people of the country did not just stop at forming a government. They got together for nation-building and they will keep at it. Businesses used to talk about red tape, now they talk about red carpet. They used to talk about policy paralysis, today they talk about reform, perform, transform.”
“By 2022, when India completes 75 years of independence, India will send a son or daughter to the space with the national flag in hand. With this, India will become the fourth nation to send a human to the space.”
“A mega healthcare scheme Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan will be launched on September 25 this year, on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay. It is high time we ensure that the poor of the country get access to good quality and affordable healthcare.””
“Women officers commissioned in short service (SSC) will get opportunity for permanent commission like their male counterparts. The honest taxpayer of India has a major role in the progress of the nation. It is due to them that so many people are fed, the lives of the poor are transformed.”
“We have to free our society and country from this demonic mentality of rape. Recently in Madhya Pradesh a rapist was hanged by the fast-track court. We should spread this news and make people aware. Rule of law is supreme and no one can take law in their hands.”
“Atal Bihari Vajpayee showed us the way for Jammu and Kashmir: Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat. We want to go ahead on that road. Not by bullets and abuse, we want to embrace the patriotic people of Kashmir.”
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