Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 11th Independence Day (I-Day) address from the ramparts of the Red Fort onThursday focused on the theme of reform and developed India or “Viksit Bharat”.
A Moneycontrol analysis shows that the PM in his speech touched upon 150 issues during his over one-and-a-half-hour long address, which primarily focused on making India a developed country by 2047, the year it celebrates the centenary of gaining freedom from the colonial British.
“If 40 crore people can achieve freedom, then 140 crore people can overcome any difficulty to achieve a developed India,” he said.
Youth and women were the primary topics of consideration in continuation from the past tradition.
He invoked youth and women nearly 25 times in his address, more than what he did during his earlier addresses.
“We have disbursed Rs 9 lakh crore towards women self-help groups, and I am proud to announce that we have reached 1 crore lakhpati didis,” he said.
On the issue of women safety, he urged for swift justice. “It’s important to instill fear in those perpetrating crime against women,” he noted.
Farmers and agriculture were referred to about 20 times.
“Organic farming has been given importance in the Budget. India can become a food basket for organic food,” he said.
Developed India and 2047 came up 31 times and reforms was referred to in 18 instances.
Developed India first found mention in the PM’s lexicon in the 2022 I-Day speech, while 2047 came up in 2021
Poverty, states, corruption, education and scheduled tribes were also notable mentions in his address along with skills and skill development.
Corruption was the primary theme of the PM’s speech in 2022 and 2023.
He talked about a sensitive and inclusive India, invoking the 150th anniversary of independence activist Birsa Munda.
Natural disasters, environment and ecology were also talked about in the speech in the wake of the Wayanad landslide tragedy.
Manufacturing and ‘Make in India’ also found mention in the speech after a gap of a year.
He talked about making India an industrial manufacturing hub. He highlighted the progress made on smartphones, toys and defence manufacturing and exports.
Modi gave the slogan of “Design in India and design for the world”, noting that it is time “Indian standards become international standard”.
He noted the need for an education system that discourages people from going outside for higher studies.
“We will create 75,000 more medical seats, adding to one lakh seats,” he pointed out, highlighting that 25,000 students each year go outside for medical education.
India needs to renew its Nalanda spirit, he said.
He also stressed on the idea of one nation, one election, hosting Olympics in 2036, green jobs and secular civil code (uniform civil code) in his speech.
He pointed to the situation in Bangladesh, calling for protection of Hindu community and minorities in the country.
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