Prime Minister Modi's Independence Day Speech: The Spark Was Absent
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2023-08-15 12:25:08
About the Author
Prime Minister Modi often surprises the so-called experts and analysts. Most of them were talking about what big schemes he would announce from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day in his speech to the nation. The experts analyzed his past speeches and were sure that this being his last such speech before the 2024 elections, the Prime Minister would announce several big ticket schemes. But apart from the Vishwakarma Yojana (at Rs 13000cr a very small scheme) for those with traditional skills, Modi chose to steer clear of such announcements.
Instead, moving from the (now) discredited (after demonetization) 'Mitron' and the usual 'Bhaiyon aur Behenon', he called the citizens his 'Parivarjan' (family members) and listed some of the achievements of his government (the rest, he said he will speak about in his next speech in 2024) and launched into a scathing attack on the opposition that he said had indulged in nepotism, corruption and appeasement while his government had followed the policy of nation first with clear policies and clean intent. He said that the Amrit Kaal now is the Kartavya Kaal and every Indian should perform his or her duty as the actions will impact India for the next 1000 years.
The Prime Minister also said that there will be peace in Manipur soon as peace is the only way to find a solution to the problems in the state. He said that many people lost their lives in the violence in the state but things are returning to normal. He said that the nation stood with Manipur.
Prime Minister Modi also stressed on the fact that his government had a dream to make 2 crore lakhpati didis in villages as he lauded the women's self-help groups and their contribution. He said that in villages, today there are "bank-wali didi, Anganwadi didi and dawai-wali didi".
The Prime Minister said that India's 'demography, democracy and diversity' which he called the 'triveni' "has the potential to make every dream of India come true". But somehow, the spark was missing.
