Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the occasion of the 76th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged the youth of the country to dedicate the next 25 years of their lives for the development of the nation. The prime minister also gave five mantras to make India a fully developed country in the next 25 years.
Invoking the spirit and determinations of freedom fighters who dreamt and fought to make India a free nation, PM Modi said, “When dreams are big, the hard work is equally strenuous. We need to be inspired by the sankalp and determination of our freedom fighters who dreamt of a free India. I urge the youth to dedicate the next 25 years of their lives for the development of the nation. We will work towards even the development of the entire humanity. That is the strength of India.”
The prime minister spelt out five mantras or panch pran to take India on a new path with a new pledge and renewed vigour. “We have to work with the vision of accomplishing what our freedom fighters dreamt of. By 100 years of Independence, for the next 25 years we need to focus on five resolves; a viksit Bharat (developed India), removing every ounce of ghulami (slavery) in us, work on the pride for our glorious heritage, ensuring unity amongst all and fulfilling our fundamental duties,” the prime minister said.
Modi recalled how citizens came together to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, where “from supporting doctors to propelling research to taking vaccines to the remotest parts, we stood together”. He said, “The world looks at India as a destination where aspirations are met. My understanding of the spirit of India made me realise that for growth of New India we needed to ensure inclusive development across the nation—a vision that was held dear by Mahatma Gandhi.”
Emphasising how his mantra of sabka saath (inclusive of all), sabka vikaas (development of all), sabka vishwaas (trust of all) and sabka prayaas (efforts by all) became the cornerstone of ensuring implementation of policies and taking development to the last mile, Modi further said, “When there is stability in governance, fast decision-making, spirit of jan bhagidari (people’s participation) prevails for nation’s development. As we celebrate 75 years, we need to now move with a renewed focus and resolve for the next 25 years, and this can be made possible through the strength and determination of 130 crore Indians.”
The prime minister also dealt in detail with the twin issues of corruption and nepotism. He observed that there was no place for corruption and that the people of the country needed to come together to punish those who have propagated the evil of corruption. “Today the nation shows anger towards corruption, but not the corrupt. Until and unless, people have the mentality of penalizing the corrupt, the nation cannot progress at optimum pace,” he said.
He further said, “We have to fight against corruption with all our strength. In the last
eight years, through the use of Aadhaar, DBT (Direct Benefit Transfers) and mobile were used to prevent nearly Rs. 2 lakh crore from falling into the wrong hands.”
Coming to nepotism that every institution across the country is beset with, PM Modi observed, “Another evil we need to come together against is nepotism. We need to give opportunities to those who are talented and will work towards the progress of the nation. Talent will be the basis of a New India. To cleanse every institute of India, let’s shift our mentality from ‘Bhai Bhatijawad’ and ‘Parivaarwad’ and give an opportunity to the citizens who deserve it.”
Apart from delving into nepotism and corruption in his ninth Independence Day address, the prime minister touched upon many issues, including federalism and his pet Digital India project. Referring to technologies the government is focussing on to usher in a revolution at the grass roots, PM Modi said, “India’s techade is here. With 5G, semiconductor manufacturing and OFCs (optical fibre networks) in villages, we are bringing a revolution through Digital India to the grass roots level.”
He said that the Digital India campaign, along with these technologies, has shown impact especially in sectors like education and health, bringing a qualitative change in common man’s lives.
Exhorting that cooperative competitive federalism was the need of the hour and there should be a healthy spirit of competition among the states while progressing in different sectors, PM Modi also said, “The need of the hour is cooperative competitive federalism. Let there be a healthy spirit of competition among the states on progressing in different sectors.”
Expressing gratitude to Bapu, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Veer Savarkar for their contribution PM Modi said that there has been a renaissance of collective consciousness across the country, especially among the aspirational Indians in fulfilling their dreams.
“This Amrit Kaal has brought in a great opportunity to fulfil the dreams of our aspirational society. We have witnessed that there has been a renaissance of collective consciousness across the country. Those aspirations are now getting realised. This collective consciousness is very precious for us,” the prime minister observed.