PM Modi’s address at 71st Independence Day Celebrations at Red Fort, Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 71st Independence Day.

The Prime Minister recalled the great women and men who worked hard for India’s freedom. He said the people of India stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected due to natural disasters, and the tragedy in Gorakhpur.

The Prime Minister noted that the current year is special, because it marks the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement; the 100th anniversary of Champaran Satyagraha; and the 125th anniversary of the celebration of ‘Saarvjanik Ganesh Utsav’ – inspired by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

The Prime Minister said that the nation had shown its collective strength between 1942 and 1947, culminating in India’s independence. He said that we must show the same collective determination and resolve to create a New India by 2022. He emphasized that everyone is equal in our nation, and together we can bring about a qualitative transformation.

The Prime Minister called for an end to the “chalta hai” attitude of complacency, and its replacement with an attitude of “badal sakta hai” for positive change.

Shri Narendra Modi said that India’s security is our priority, and the surgical strike had underscored this. He added that India’s stature in the world is rising, and several countries are cooperating with India in fighting the menace of terrorism. On demonetization, he said that those who have looted the nation, and the poor, are not able to sleep peacefully, and honesty is being celebrated today. He asserted that the fight against black money will continue, and technology will help bring about transparency. He encouraged people to further promote digital transactions.

The Prime Minister described the implementation of GST as a key illustration of cooperative federalism. He said the poor are joining the mainstream through initiatives of financial inclusion. He emphasized that good governance is about speed and simplification of processes. On Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister emphasized that neither abuses, nor bullets, but only embracing, can solve the problems in the State. (Na gaali se, na goli se, parivartan hoga gale lagaane se).

Describing his vision for New India, the Prime Minister said that people would be the driving force behind the establishment, rather than the other way around – Tantra se Lok nahin, Lok se tantra chalega.

The Prime Minister appreciated the farmers and the agriculture scientists for record crop production this year. He said the Government had procured 16 lakh tonnes of pulses this year, far in excess of the procurement of previous years.

The Prime Minister said the changing nature of technology is resulting in the requirement of different skill-sets for employment. He also added that the youth is being nurtured to become job-creators, and not job-seekers.

Mentioning women who have to suffer due to Triple Talaq, the Prime Minister said that he admires the courage of those who have stood up against this practice, and added that the nation stands with them in their struggle.

The Prime Minister said India stands for peace, unity, and harmony. He said casteism and communalism will not help us. He strongly condemned the use of violence in the name of faith, and said this will not be accepted in India. He said the call of the Quit India Movement was “Bharat Chhodo,” but the call today is “Bharat Jodo.”

The Prime Minister said significant attention is being paid to the development of eastern and north-eastern India. He said the Government has taken India on new tracks of development, without slackening pace.

Quoting from scriptures, the Prime Minister said that if we do not take the right step at the right time, we do not achieve desired results. He said this is the right time for ‘Team India’ to resolve for ‘New India.’

He called for a New India where the poor would have houses, and access to water and electricity; where farmers would be free from worry, and would earn twice of what they earn today; youth and women would get ample opportunities to fulfil their dreams; an India free from terrorism, communalism, casteism, corruption and nepotism; and an India which is clean and healthy.

The Prime Minister announced the launch of a website to honour gallantry award winners.

We are capable of defending our country in all spheres

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the government accorded priority to national security and asserted that the country was capable of defending itself in all spheres.

The prime minister’s comments in his Independence Day speech came in the backdrop of a standoff between the troops of India and China in Dokalam.

“National security is our priority. We are capable of defending our country in all spheres,” he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

India was capable to take on any challenge in any frontier — land, sea or the cyber space, he added.

Bullets or abuses won’t help resolve Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said bullets or abuses will not resolve the Kashmir issue and that it can be addressed by embracing every Kashmiri.

Addressing the nation on the 71st Independence Day from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, he asserted that his government is committed to restoring the lost glory of Kashmir and its status as ‘heaven on earth’.

“Na gaali se samasya sulajhne wali hai, na goli se, samasya suljhegi har Kashmiri ko gale lagane se (Kashmir probem cannot be resolved by either bullets or by abuses. It can be resolved by embracing all Kashmiris),” Modi said in his fourth Independence Day speech.

He said only a “handful of separatists” were resorting to different tactics to create problems in the state and asserted that there will be no soft approach towards terrorism.

The government is committed to make Kashmir a paradise once again, the prime minister asserted.

Not only the J&K government but the entire country is with the people of the state in helping them realise their dreams of development, Modi said.

During his hour-long address, the prime minister also declared that that violence in the name of faith was not acceptable and termed casteism and communalism as poison.

Referring to recent incidents of natural calamities in various parts of the country as also death of children at a state-run hospital in Uttar Pradesh, he said sympathies of the entire nation are with the affected families.

“Many parts of the country faced natural calamities in the recent past. Children died at a hospital. The entire nation is with them,” Modi said.

Noting that natural calamities become a big challenge, he said while good rains contribute to prosperity of the country, climate change creates problems.

Talking about national security, he said it is a priority and the country is capable of defending itself in all spheres.

India is capable of tackling any challenge in any frontier — land, sea or the cyber space, the prime minister said against the backdrop of border standoff with China in Doklam.

Violence in the name of faith not acceptable

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that violence in the name of faith is “not acceptable” and described casteism and communalism as “poison” for the country.

The comments assume significance in the backdrop of incidents of lynchings by cow vigilantes.

“Violence in the name of faith is not acceptable in the country,” Modi said in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Pitching for harmony and peace, he said “Bharat Jodo” (connect India) should be the slogan like “Bharat chhodo” (Quit India) was during the freedom struggle.

Describing casteism and communalism as “poison” in the society, Modi said such problems cannot benefit the country in any way.

Underlining that India is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Buddha, he said the culture of the country is to take everyone along on the path of development.

“Therefore, violence cannot be emphasised in the name of faith,” he said.

Rs 1.75 lakh cr under scrutiny post note ban

Vowing to continue the crackdown on black money, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that over Rs 1.75 lakh crore deposited in banks post note-ban and more than 18 lakh people with disproportionate income are under government scrutiny.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 71st Independence Day, he said: “Those who have looted the nation and looted the poor are not able to sleep peacefully today.”

Demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes last November, he said, helped bring over Rs 3 lakh crore of hereto unaccounted wealth into the banking system.

“This is not government research this is outside experts,” he added.

Modi said that out of the money deposited in banks post note ban, over Rs 1.75 lakh crore is under scrutiny. “More than Rs 2 lakh crore black money has reached banks and now people depositing such money are being made to answer questions on their origin.”

The move, he said, has checked generation of new black money.

“The result of this has been that this year, the new tax payers (filing returns) has more than doubled to 56 lakh. Last year this was 22 lakh. This is the result of fight against black money,” he said.

Prime Minister, who rode to power in 2014 on promise to eliminate black money, said the crackdown on ill-gotten wealth will continue.

“More than 18 lakh people have been identified whose income is more than their declared wealth,” he said. “And they have to answer questions on how they accumulated such wealth.”

Of the 18 lakh, 4.5 lakh people have come out in open and are seeking to amend their “mistakes,” he said, adding that one lakh had not paid income tax ever in past.

Recalling the steps taken by his government to unearth unaccounted and untaxed wealth, he said black money of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore has been detected in last three years which people were compelled to surrender.

Demonetisation, he said, was a step in that direction which achieved great success.

The move forced “the black money which was hidden to be brought to mainstream. Our effort was to get money into banks and make it a part of formal economy and we have done it successfully”, he said.

Modi said in a nation where closure of a couple of companies would lead to debates on destruction of economy, more than 1.75 lakh shell companies have been shut.

Black money holders hid their wealth behind the veils of shell companies, he said. “After data mining post demonetisation, we have found 3 lakh such companies which are only shell companies.”

Shell companies are non-trading firms used as a vehicle for various financial manoeuvres to avoid paying taxes.

“You will be surprised to know that there are 400 shell companies operating from same address. There was no enquiry and all of it was going on in connivance (between tax evaders and officials). And for this, I embarked on a fight against black money and corruption,” he said.

Note ban, he said, got money into banks, which are now lowering interest rates.

Common man is getting money. “Bank are lending to poor at lower interest rates. This is all working to boost the country’s economy,” he said.

Modi stressed on digital payments to move towards less cash economy saying there has been 34 per cent increase in digital payments in last one year.

In nearly an hour long speech, Modi said the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), that subsumed over a dozen central and state levies to weave India into one market, has been smooth.

“GST has shown the spirit of cooperative federalism. The nation has come together to support GST and the role of technology has also helped,” he said.

Removal of check posts after implementation of GST has cut time for transporting goods by 30 per cent, he said.

The Prime Minister said for his government, good governance is about speed and simplification of processes.

“Our fight against corruption and black money will continue. We are working to bring transparency using technology,” he said. “We are fighting corruption – for the bright future of India and the wellbeing of our people.”

People responsible for “loot” of national wealth will have to give answers, he said. “Our fight against corruption and black money will continue.”

Modi said changing demand and technology is altering the nature of job and his government wants to nurture youngsters to be job creators and not job seekers.

“We are taking the nation on a new track (of development) and are moving ahead with speed,” he said, adding that the government was devoting significant attention to eastern states of Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha and Northeast.

“These parts have to grow further,” he said.

Modi said he wants to create an India where poor have a concrete house, electricity and water. “An India where farmer does not have any worry and sleeps peacefully. An India where farmer gets double of what he sows.

PM hails women’s fight against ‘triple talaq’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the women fighting the practice of ‘triple talaq’ and said the entire country is with them in their endeavour to get their rights.

“I pay my regards to the women who had to lead a pitiable life due to ‘triple talaq’ and have started a movement which has created an environment in the entire country against the practice,” Modi said here in his Independence Day address.

The prime minister said the entire country is with them in their endeavour to get their rights.

The Centre has said that it is against the practice of triple talaq. The matter is being adjudicated by a constitution bench of the Supreme Court.