Though he did not make a direct reference to violence against dalits, Modi asserted that survival of the society was impossible if there was no social unity and asked the countrymen to work for social equality and justice.
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While the last two of his speeches from the Red Fort have largely been extempore, this year the Prime Minister had invited suggestions from the public to include in his address to the nation. Mr Modi emphasized on sensitivity and accountability in governance. Only then will the dream of surajya come true.
Lashing out at Pakistan for glorifying terrorists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today declared that the country will not bow before terrorism even as he said people of Baluchistan and PoK have thanked him for raising issue of atrocities against them.
“Now things have changed”, Modi said.
He stressed that transparency is key for good governance.
The energy in India can help it to scale newer heights of progress, Modi said. “This had been acheived despite two years of drought”, he said. Mr Modi said, this speed will bring a change in the quality of life of people of this nation.
“These 70 crore LED bulbs can save 20,000 MW of electricity worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore”.
He said state-owned Air India, telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Shipping Corporation Of India Ltd now have operating profits.
“We look at the social tension today”.
He added that LED bulbs, which were sold for as high as Rs 350 each, are now being distributed by his government for Rs 50 each now. Mr Modi said, the present government at the centre will continue the good projects initiated by the previous governments. Prime minister said, the present government have increased the maternity leave benefits of working women.
Referring to refund of tax deducted at source, Modi said there was a time a honest citizen would pay tax, but once the money went into the government’s coffers, refunds would take months.
He asserted that a “tough and sensitive” approach is required to tackle the age-old social evils including castism or untouchability. He said, violence has no place in the society.
A strong country can not be build without a strong society which is based on social justice. Mr Modi said, 99.5 per cent of past dues of sugarcane farmers have been cleared. He said, Pakistan must stop backing terror. “And so I want to thank the people of Baluchistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir”, Modi said. Earlier, Prime Minister paid tributes to father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
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In the past, the mobile phone and mobile internet services used to be disabled for few hours during Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations as a precautionary measure to prevent militants from using these devices to trigger explosions. All important monuments in the country have been illuminated in Tricolour.
