Independence Day speech 2018: While presenting his report card, Narendra Modi takes a dig at slow pace of UPA govt

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country was transformed from being seen as among the fragile five, to the land of ‘reform, perform and transform". He said the country is set for record economic growth. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day, he touched upon several initiatives the government had come out from Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Insolvency Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and MSP hikes, among others. Speaking for over 80 minutes the prime minister said, a government needs to be courageous to implement changes. While making this comment, he referred to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). “Everybody wanted GST but it got stuck", said PM Modi. Another brave step his government took was with regard to hiking Minimum Support Price (MSP), the Prime Minister said. “The farmers have been demanding 1.5 times of MSP for years, but my government took the brave step to accept it”, he said. He pointed out that the demand for higher MSP was pending for years. From farmers to political parties to agriculture experts, everybody was asking about it but nothing happened. After years of files circulating from one office to other, ‘we came and put in place MSP for farmers,’ he said. [caption id=“attachment_4968951” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  PM Modi giving a speech on Independence Day today at the Red Fort. Pic courtesy: Twitter@PMOIndia[/caption] Wearing an orange turban while making his fifth and final Independence Day speech before the 2019 general elections, the prime minister put the spotlight on all that his government had done since being voted to power in 2014. Making a comparison between the situation in 2013 and the current times, the prime minister said if the pace of the UPA government’s last year was maintained, it would have taken decades, centuries and generations to build as many toilets, distribute as many LPG connections among the poor and lay down as much optical fibre as his government has done. The prime minister pointed out how the determination to do something for the country yields results. He said, when you are determined to do something for the country, then even Benami Property rules get implemented. He also said that middlemen no longer ruled the roost in government corridors. There is now no role for middlemen or traditional power brokers in the capital in influencing Governmental decisions, he said.  Making a mention of tax evaders in his speech, he said over 3 lakh shell companies have been shut for evading taxes. The government has strengthened actions against tax evaders, he said. The Prime Minister said, the ‘honest Indian taxpayer has a big role in the progress of the country’. It is because of them that the lives of the poor are transformed, he said.

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: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 15, 2018

However, he said, the country will not forgive or let go of tax evaders, who had ruined the nation.

We will not forgive the corrupt and those who have black money. They have ruined the nation.

Delhi's streets are free from power brokers.

From the voice of power brokers, the voice of the poor is heard: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 15, 2018

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He indicated that the work started by his government was far from over. There is no question of stopping or getting tired on the way, the prime minister said. The prime minister said the country has to be taken to new heights. He reiterated his oft-mentioned sabka sath_,_ sabka vikas_._ He said that every Indian should have a house, electricity and LPG connection, proper sanitation, skills, access to internet services among others and so the government has launched schemes for all these essentials.