PM Narendra Modi addresses the nation on India's 70th Independence Day
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech addressed the nation from the rampart of the historical Red Fort on Independence Day in New Delhi.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves at the crowd after his address during the Independence Day function at the Red Fort monument in New Delhi, India, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016. AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top second right wearing a colored turban, salutes after unfurling the national flag from the ramparts of the historical Red Fort on Independence Day in New Delhi. AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inspects a guard of honor before addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort to celebrate Independence Dayin New Delhi. Modi addressed the nation in his speech and covered issues of governance, progress of various government schemes, improvement in agriculture, women empowerment, financial growth, and the passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Parliament. AP
Though cross-border terrorism featured in his speech, the tone was mellow compared to the speech he made at the all-party meet. Kashmir also found a brief mention when he said, "To the youth who have taken up gun, I urge them to return to their parents, shun violence." AP
Although the Prime Minister spoke about social injustices, the issue of Dalit atrocities and the rising tyranny of the gau rakshaks was missing from his speech. AP
"After 70 years of Independence, the nation has changed. Now the people don’t get satisfied by a mere declaration of policy or plan. Now it expects to see the changes on grassroots." said Narendra Modi. AP