‘Will return to Red Fort next year’: In Independence Day speech, PM Modi makes strong pitch for third term

He framed the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a battle against “evils” plaguing the country, saying “now is not the time to shut your eyes” towards “corruption, dynastic rule and appeasement”.

He spoke on issues like Manipur and inflation, for which his government has been targeted by the Opposition.

Early in his speech, he mentioned Manipur: “In the past few weeks, particularly in Manipur in the North-East, and in some other parts of India, there has been a spell of violence, where many people lost their lives, and the dignity of mothers and daughters was violated. However, in the last few days, we have been hearing continuous reports of peace, and the entire nation stands with the people of Manipur. The people of Manipur have maintained peace in the past few days, and they should continue to foster that peace, as it is the path to resolution. Both the state and Central governments are working together to find solutions to the issues and will continue to do so.”

Positioning the country under his government as one that has “brought a guarantee of stability in the world”, Modi said, “There are no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ now in our minds, or in the minds of my 140 crore family members, or in the mind of the world. There is complete trust.”

“Now the ball is in our court. We should not let the opportunity go… My countrymen have the ability to understand the roots of the problems and, therefore, in 2014… formed a strong and stable government… in 2014 as well as in 2019, you formed a strong government, and that is why Modi got the courage to bring reforms… And that’s why this period of ‘reform, perform, transform’ is now shaping the future of India. And we are promoting those forces within the country, which are going to strengthen the foundation of the coming 1000 years,” he said.

“When a foundation stone is laid by our government, it gets inaugurated within our rule. I feel blessed I was the chosen one, and it was in my destiny to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of so many projects,” he said.

Stating that “this India is unstoppable, this India is tireless, this India does not gasp and this India does not give up”, the Prime Minister listed his government’s track record – from Covid-19 vaccination to implementation of initiatives, “providing electricity to 18,000 villages, opening bank accounts for the masses, building toilets for daughters”.

Citing the example of the new Parliament building, Modi said, “We had a resolve to accomplish something which was being discussed in our country for 25 years, that our country needs a new Parliament; now it is ready.”

Asserting that the next five years will be the years of unprecedented development, he said, “The next five years are the golden moments to realise the dream of 2047. And next time, on the 15th of August, from this very Red Fort, I will present to you the achievements of the country, your capabilities, the progress made by you, the successes achieved with even greater self-confidence.”

“I come from amongst you, within your midst and I live for you. If I have a dream, it is for you. If I sweat, it is for you. Not because you have entrusted me with this responsibility, but because you are my family,” he said.

He attacked the Opposition parties, calling them “parivarvaadi partiyan” (dynastic parties) and said they have brought a “vikriti” (distortion) and can never strengthen India’s democracy.

“What is their mantra? Party of the family, by the family and for the family. Their life mantra is that their political party belongs to the family,” he said, taking a swipe at the Congress and the Gandhi family.

Bringing up the concern over inflation, he said, “Today the world is facing the crisis of inflation. Inflation has gripped the economy of the whole world. We also import some goods from around the world. Unfortunately, we have to import at inflated prices. So, this whole world has been gripped by inflation.” He tried to link inflation to the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Stating that India has emerged as a “vishwa mitra” (friend of the world), Modi said, “The world has begun to think in a new way after the Corona period. And I firmly believe that just as after the Second World War, the world formed a new world order, I can see that a new world order, a new global order, a new geo-political equation rapidly progressing after Corona. All interpretations of the geo-political equation are changing, definitions are changing.”

Observing that the “Triveni” (trinity) of “demography, democracy and diversity” will fulfil every dream of India, he said, “Whatever we do, whatever step we take, whatever decision we take, it is going to determine our direction for the next 1000 years, it is going to write the fate of India.”

Before this, he underlined “a thousand years” of “slavery” and the impact it had on the country: “When we look back at history, there are moments that leave an indelible mark, and their impact lasts for centuries. Sometimes, these events might seem small and insignificant at the beginning, but they lay the roots for numerous problems. We all know that our country was invaded 1000-1200 years ago. A small kingdom and its king were defeated. However, we couldn’t have known that this event would lead India into a thousand years of subjugation. We got ensnared in slavery, and whoever came, looted us and ruled over us. What an adverse period it must have been, that thousand-year span.”

“An event might seem small, but its effects can persist for a thousand years. Today, I want to mention this because during this phase, brave souls from across the country continued to keep the flame of freedom burning, and establish a tradition of sacrifice. Mother India stood up to break chains and shackles… women power, youth power, farmers, and people from villages, workers and every Indian… a formidable force was ready for sacrifices to attain freedom… We are at the milestone between 1000 years of slavery and 1000 years of a grand future that is about to come. We are at this crossroads and we cannot stop, nor shall we live in a dilemma anymore.”

“Corruption is at the root of all the problems of our country. Like a termite, it has completely eaten away all the systems of the country, and all the capabilities of the country… Corruption, dynasty and appeasement; these challenges have flourished which has suppressed the aspirations of the people of our country. These evils rob our country of whatever abilities some people have… Be it our poor, be it Dalit, be it backward, be it Pasmanda communities, be it our tribal brothers and sisters, or be it our mothers or sisters, we all have to get rid of these three evils,” he said.

In line with his party’s focus on the women support base, Modi said now that India had the maximum number of women pilots in civil aviation and women scientists were leading the Chandrayaan mission, his next dream was to see two crore “lakhpati didis” in village self-help groups. “For this, we have decided to start a new scheme, in which self-help group women will be trained to operate and repair drones. It will empower rural women and strengthen the country’s agri-tech sector,” he said, adding that even the G20 countries were recognising the importance of women-led development in the country.

“A new trust has arisen in the world about India’s potential. Today, the world is watching India’s diversity with astonishment, due to which their fascination for India has gone up,” he said.