Address to the nation on 76th Independence Day: Prime Minister said, the key to women’s power for national progress, flagged off nepotism and corruption

Recognizing corruption and nepotism as key challenges for the next 25 years in India’s journey to complete 100 years of independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it is time before these twin threats become “debilitating”. But there is a need to take “corrective steps”.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day, the Prime Minister also called for taking a pledge to respect women. “I feel sad to say that we have noticed distortion in our day-to-day speech, and behaviour.

We are recklessly using such language and words which are insulting to women. Can’t we pledge to get rid of everything that humiliates and humiliates women in our behaviour, culture and everyday life? The pride of women will be a great asset in fulfilling the dreams of the nation. I see this Nari Shakti (“Nari Shakti”) and that’s why I insist on it,” he said.
He laid down five major resolutions, which he called “Panch Prana”, including the “big resolve” to make India a developed country.

Detailing the challenges faced by the country over the centenary year, Modi said, “I don’t want to discuss everything, but want to focus on two issues. One is corruption and the other is brother. -Nepotism (“nepotism”) and dynasty system (“familyism”)… if we do not take corrective steps in time, they can be formidable.

In his 82-minute speech, which began at 7.35 am, the Prime Minister also talked about several other key issues that he needed to address: self-reliance (“Atmanirbhar Bharat”); the need for innovation (“research”); the cleansing of politics and institutions from the “family mentality” (“purification”); Ensuring cooperative federalism which is also competitive; And, respect for women.
His “Panch Pran” included making India a developed country by 2047; abandoning the slavery mentality; Taking pride in the heritage of the country; ensuring unity and solidarity, and performing the duty of citizens.

Modi said that this occasion is also an opportunity to seriously acknowledge the debt of those who fought for India’s independence and with deep resolve resolved to fulfill their dreams at the earliest. Listing several personalities in this context, he said: “All the countrymen are deeply indebted to Pujya Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi), Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Veer Savarkar, who devoted their whole life to the path of duty towards the nation.

Modi also made a list of “great men” who “fought for freedom and built the country after independence” – “like Dr. Rajendra Prasad Ji, Nehru Ji, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel” referring to the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Deendayal Upadhyay, Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Nanaji Deshmukh, Subramaniam Bharti.

Stating that India’s fight against corruption is entering a “decisive period”, Modi said, “even the bigwigs will not be spared”. “In a country like India where people are fighting poverty… on one hand, there are people who do not have a place to live, on the other, there are people who do not have a place to keep their black money,” he said.

“This is not an ideal condition. Therefore, we have to fight against corruption with full vigour,” Modi said, adding that the Government has been successful in working for the betterment of the country by saving Rs 2 lakh crore, which used to “go to the wrong hands”, by using modern systems like Direct Benefit Transfer and Aadhaar.

“Those who fled the country by robbing banks during the tenure of the previous government, we have confiscated their properties and are trying to get them back. Some have been forced to go behind bars,” he said.

He said that corruption is hollowing the country like a termite. “It is our effort that those who have looted the country, they (loot) should be forced to return,” he said. We are trying to create such a situation… With this attitude, India is moving ahead in the decisive phase against corruption.”

Striking a personal remark, Modi said, “I have to fight against it, intensify the fight and take it to a turning point. So, my 130 crore countrymen, please bless me and support me. Today I have come to seek your support and cooperation so that I can fight this fight… Corruption has ruined the lives of common citizens. Therefore, I want to ensure that common citizen can live with dignity once again.”

Without naming any institution or person, the Prime Minister said that it is “a matter of great concern that although the hatred of corruption is visible and expressed in the country, sometimes leniency is shown towards the corrupt, who may be involved in any Not acceptable in the country”.

He said, “And many people are so shameless that despite being convicted in court, proven corrupt, even after being sentenced to imprisonment, while in prison, they glorify, take pride and their Keep escalating the situation.”

“Such mentality will not change”, he said, “unless we develop corruption and hatred towards the corrupt unless we accuse these people of social shaming”.
Moving on to the second major challenge, Modi said, “When I talk about nepotism, people think that I am talking only about politics. No, unfortunately, the evil in the political arena has encouraged nepotism in every institution in India.

Taking a jibe at dynasty politics, Modi said its aim is only for the welfare of one family and does not care about the welfare of the country. “Let us take steps for the purification of the politics of India and the purification of all institutions,” he said.

The Prime Minister also stressed the need for the country to set its standards. “The slave mentality has to be dropped. How long will the world keep giving us certificates? How long will we live on the certificates of the world? Shall we not set our standards? Can’t a 130-crore country strive to exceed its standards?

Discussing the government’s focus on a “self-reliant India”, Modi said, “We have to become self-reliant in the energy sector.” In this context, he emphasized the need for innovation, adding “Jai Anusandhan” to the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”, which he said was an “inspirational call” from former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to which he added “Jai Vigyan”. went. By former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan,” he said.

Speaking about the principle of federalism, Modi said, “Our dreams are bound to come true if we walk shoulder to shoulder… Programs may differ, working styles may differ, but resolutions do not differ. Maybe, dreams cannot be different for a nation… There are many states of our country, that have played a big role in taking the country forward, and have led and acted as examples in many fields.

This strengthens our federalism. But today the need of the hour is that we need cooperative federalism as well as cooperative competitive federalism. We need competition for development.”