Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday, while addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day, asserted India’s fight against corruption is entering a “decisive period” as he listed two big challenges of corruption and nepotism that are facing the country.
“If we do not solve these in time, they can become formidable,” he said.
During his one-hour and 22 minutes speech, he also announced five resolutions for the country for the next 25 years that he described as Amrit Kal.
In an indirect reference to money recovered during the recent raids by the Enforcement Directorate, the Prime Minister said, “Bharat jaise desh me jahan log garibi se jujh rahe hai… ek taraf wo log hain jinke pas rahne ko jagah nahin hain, dusri taraf wo log hain jinko apna chori kiya hua mal rakhne ko jagah nahin hai. (In a country like India where people are fighting against poverty… On the one side, there are people who do not have a place to live, on the other side, there are people who do not have a place to hide their money which they have stolen.”
“This is not a good condition. Therefore, we have to fight against corruption with full power,” he said, adding that his government has ensured a saving of Rs 2 lakh crore through the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer in the last 8 years.
‘Big-wigs won’t be spared’
Modi said that corruption is hollowing the country like a termite and we will have to fight it. “Humari koshish hai ki jinhonne desh ko loota hai, unko lautana bhee pade. Hum iski koshish kar rahein hain. (It is our efforts that those who have looted the country are forced to return it. We are trying to create that situation,” said PM Modi.
The prime minister said that the country’s fight against corruption is entering a “decisive period [nirnayak kalkhand]”. “Bade bade chamarbandi bhi bach nahin payenge. (Even the big-wigs will not be spared),” he said.
“With this attitude, India is marching in a decisive period against corruption,” Modi said. “I have come to seek your support so that I can fight this battle and the country can win this battle,” Modi said.
Modi said that it is a matter of concern that today, hate against corruption can be seen in the country but at times, corrupts are treated with generosity. This does not suit well in any country, he said.
“Some people even go to that extent that even if a person has been convicted by the court and has been found corrupt, about to go prison or are in the prison. Despite that they keep on glorifying them,” Modi said, adding that until people don’t hate filth, awareness about cleanliness cannot be created.
Until there is no feeling of hate against corruption and the corrupt, they are not forced to feel low socially, till then this mentality is not going to end, Modi said, adding that the country needs to be aware of the corruption and corrupt.
‘Nepotism hurts the nation’
Speaking about nepotism, Modi said, “When I talk about nepotism, people think that I am only talking about politics. No, unfortunately, that evil in the political field has nurtured nepotism in every institution of India.”
Nepotism has gripped many institutions of the country and this hurts the nation’s talent and potential, Modi said, adding that this is also one of the reasons for corruption.
Hitting out at dynastic politics, Modi said, “The dynastic politics is aimed at the welfare of a family only and it doesn’t care about the welfare of the country.”
Calling for cleaning of politics (rajneeti ki shuddhikaran), Modi said that we have to make free the country of dynastic politics and take the country forward on the basis of talent. “Aiyiye Hindustan ki rajneeti ki shuddhikaran aur sabhi sansthaon ki shuddhi ke liye kadam barhayen. (Let’s come and take steps to clean the politics and institutions of India.),” Modi said.
Panchpran, new slogan
Among the five resolves or panchpran he announced for the next 25 years—first, big resolve; second, to abandon the slave mentality; third, we have to feel proud about our heritage; fourth, unity and solidarity; and fifth, the duty of citizens.
“We have to make India a developed nation in the next 25 years,” Modi said. “Ghulami ki mansikata ko tilanjali deni hogi. (The slave mentality has to be abandoned.)”
Discussing his government’s focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Modi said, “We have to become self-reliant in the energy sector.”
Emphasising the need for innovation, Modi added a new phrase—Jai Anusandhan—to the slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan which was coined by the then prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and expanded to Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and Jai Vigyan by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan,” said Modi.
Modi also urged people to take a resolve to respect women and called for increasing their contribution to the progress of the country during the next 25 years.
Modi said that corruption is hollowing the country like a termite and we will have to fight it. 
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