PM Narendra Modi addresses the nation from Red Fort on 71st Independence Day
Pime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government is nurturing youngsters to become job creators and not job-seekers.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, Modi said: "Change in demand and technology is changing the nature of jobs.""We are nurturing our youngsters to be job creators and not job-seekers," he said. He also said under the Mudra Scheme many people across the nation have benefited as the government has provided them loans without asking for any guaranty.
Referring to his government's drive against black money and the demonetisation drive, PM Modi said that Rs 1.25 lakh crore of black money has been detected. He added that Rs 3 lakh crore has come into the banking system after demonetisation; an amount of over Rs 1.75 lakh crore is under scrutiny; Rs 2 lakh crore of black money has reached banks.
Further, PM Modi said that after demonetisation, 300,000 shell companies were detected, of which, 175,000 have been shut.
Highlighting the enormity of the black money menace, Modi said up to 400 bogus firms were found to be operating from a single address.
Defencing the government'spush for a less-cash economy, PM Modi said that India had seen a 34 per cent increase in digital payments in the past one year. Further stressing on his government's drive to hunt down illegitimate wealth, the PM said that as result of the fight against black money, the number of those who filed income tax this year was 5.6 million, more than double the number last year.
Addressing the nation on the occasion of the 71st Independence Day from the Red Fort here, he also said the government was devoting significant attention to the eastern states including Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha and the Northeast, noting that "these parts have to grow further".
Many countries are actively helping India in the war against terror, he added.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on India's Independence Day, Modi thanked these countries but did not name them.
"India's stature in the world is rising. The world is with us in fighting the menace of terrorism. I thank all the countries actively helping us," he said.
Modi also 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 in Sikkim.
"National security is our priority. We are capable of defending our country in all spheres," he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Modi spoke about a range of issues in his Independence Day speech – from mentioning the loss of innocent children’s lives in Gorakhpur to natural disasters, the Kashmir issue, black money, and India’s growing goodwill across the world.
Referring to the recent Gorakhpur tragedy, Modi said a few days ago, “many of the nation's innocent children had died in a hospital”. He also said this was a special year, being the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, the 100th anniversary of Champaran Satyagraha, and the 125th anniversary of Ganesh Utsav.
“We have to take the nation forward with the resolve of creating a 'New India',” said PM Modi.
Calling upon the youth of the nation, Modi said January 1, 2018, would not be an ordinary day – those born in this century would start turning 18. “They are the ‘Bhagya Vidhatas’ of our nation”, Modi said.
Referring to his government's demonetisation drive, Modi said that those who had looted the nation and the poor were not able to sleep peacefully. Talking of the new tax regime that came into effect from July 1 this year, he said Goods and Services Tax (GST) had shown the spirit of cooperative federalism. “The nation has come together to support GST and the role of technology has also helped,” added the PM.
About 70,000 Delhi Police personnel are keeping a tight vigil over the national capital, especially the Red Fort. The city has been put under an unprecedented ground-to- air security cover in view of the twin occasions of the Independence Day and Janmashtami festival, a senior police officer said.
Thousands of security personnel, including 9,100 personnel from the Delhi Police, have been deployed in and around the historic Mughal fort which will see the presence of senior ministers, top bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people during the prime minister's address.
Meanwhile, search engine giant Google is displaying an artistic doodle to mark India’s Independence Day. The doodle includes a motif of Indian Parliament, a symbolic wheel for the Ashok Chakra and national bird peacock, all submerged in shades of saffron, green, white and blue. The word “Google” is displayed across the Parliament House, made out of ribbons of the Indian tricolour.
"A unique paper-cut art style has been used to create a Doodle fit for the bold and colorful celebration of today's events. The Parliament House depicted commemorates this day, this movement, and this triumph of independence," Google said in a statement.
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PM Modi said that together we will create a new India where farmers will sleep peacefully at night and will earn twice as much as they do today; where the poor will have a house, access to electricity and utilities; where the youth and women will be provided with ample opportunities to fulfil their dreams; where people will not suffer due to terrorism, communalism, and casteism; and where corruption and nepotism will not be tolerated. PM Modi said we would together create a clean, healthy India, which would fulfil the dream of 'swarajya'.
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During the Independence movement, the slogan was "quit India". Today, our slogan is "unite India": PM Modi
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Rs 1.25 lakh crore black money has been detected post note ban, said PM Modi. "We are fighting corruption - for the bright future of India and the well being of our people," said the PM.
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Referring to his government's push for a less-cash India, PM Modi said that digital transactions have increased by 34 per cent in the past one year.
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Under the new GST regime, our truck drivers save 30 per cent of their time in travel now, said PM Modi. A single measure like GST has given us 30 per cent greater efficiency, he added.
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Referring to the petitions against practices like 'Triple Talaq' and polygamy in the Supreme Court, PM Modi said he admired the courage of the women who have suffered due to such practices and are fighting against them. "We are with them in their struggles," added PM Modi.
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The poison of casteism and communalism can never be beneficial for our nation. This is the country of Lord Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi: PM Modi
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Talking about 'New India', Modi said that in the new country, the people would be the new rulers. He further discussed aspects relating to the agricultural sector. Speaking of providing support to farmers from seed-to-market, the PM said that his government had taken steps, including ensuring flow of adequate FDI, to set up the required infrastructure.
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Speaking on the ongoing militancy in Kashmir, the PM said the situation could not be solved by either bullets or by hurling abuses. In stead, PM Modi said that the situation in Kashmir could only be solved by embracing every Kashmiri.
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Talking about the strength of India's security forces, PM Modi said that India’s security was his government's priority. The PM said that India’s security forces have always proved their mettle. "When we launched a surgical strike, the world had to admit India's strength," said the PM.
 "PM Narendra Modi addresses the nation from Red Fort on 71st Independence Day")
