Will present report card from Red Fort in 2024: PM Modi in I-Day speech

'Three evils', 'mere parivarjan', and 'Modi' highlight his 10th I-Day speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 10th Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Tuesday — his last before the next year's big electoral battle — sought to set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, urging the people to “fight with all their might” the three evils of dynastic political parties, corruption, and appeasement.

The PM said India is blessed with the trinity of demography, democracy, and diversity that has the potential to fulfil every dream of every Indian.  During his 90-minute speech, Modi spoke of himself in the third person on seven occasions. He thanked the people for forming strong governments in 2014 and 2019, which he said gave “Modi the courage” to unleash a period of “reform, perform, transform”.  The prime minister said he believed the responsibility would fall upon him to inaugurate the projects whose foundation stones were being laid now. “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,” he said.

 

 Addressing citizens as “mere parivarjan”, or “my beloved family members”, and “mere priyajan”, or “my dear loved ones”, more than 50 times instead of his usual “my dear brothers and sisters” and “my fellow citizens”, the PM said: “I come from amongst you, if I sweat it is for you, because you are my family.” Modi contrasted his commitment to work for his “family of 1.4 billion Indians” against the “life mantra” of dynastic political leaders where the party is “of the family, by the family, and for family”.  He stressed the need for women-led development, and said his government aimed at creating a base of “20 million Lakhpati Didis” among women self-help groups. He said the government would initially provide drones for agricultural purposes to 15,000 women SHGs.
 

Modi said that his government would launch the Vishwakarma Scheme on Vishwakarma Jayanti, which falls on September 17, benefiting individuals skilled in traditional craftsmanship, particularly from the OBC community, such as weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, and barbers, with an allocation of Rs 13,000 crore-Rs 15,000 crore. 

 On inflation, he said it had gripped the economy of the whole world, making India's imports costlier, but his government has tried its best to control inflation. “Compared to the previous period, we have also had some success, but we cannot be complacent,” he said. “I have to take more steps in this direction to minimise the burden of inflation on my countrymen. And we will continue to take that step. My efforts will continue.”

 The prime minister blamed the “appeasement thinking, appeasement politics” and “government schemes for appeasement” for killing social justice, the hopes and aspirations of the Dalit, backwards, including the Pasmanda communities, a term for backward castes among Muslims, tribals, and women. He said India has the largest population of those under 30 years, and its youth is driving innovation, propelling India to a certain position in the world's first three start-up economy systems, with efforts in not only metro cities but also smaller cities.

 Modi said the country discussed the need for a new Parliament building for 25 years, but it was "Modi who ensured the new Parliament (building) was ready ahead of time.” Likening corruption to termites eating away the country's capabilities, the PM said, it was “Modi’s personal commitment” that he will continue to fight against corruption. The PM said the use of technology is weeding out corruption. “If you listen to the alarming figures, you will realise that Modi takes such steps,” he said.

 The PM, who sported a vibrant multicoloured Rajasthani bandhani print turban with an off-white kurta and churidar, listed his government’s welfare schemes that have helped reduce poverty, and reiterated “Modi's guarantee” that India will be among the top three world economies in the world. He noted 135 million people have come out of poverty, and have joined the middle class. “When the purchasing power of the poor increases, the power of the middle class to carry out business grows, too. When the purchasing power of the villages increases, the financial system of the town and city runs at a faster pace,” he said.

 Modi said the country stands with the people of Manipur, which is witnessing ethnic strife, and the Centre and the state government are trying to resolve the situation. He said the dignity of mothers and daughters was violated, but in the past few days, we have been hearing continuous reports of peace.

 The PM said some moments and events may seem small and insignificant, but leave an indelible mark, such as when India was invaded 1000-1200 years ago, where a small kingdom and its king were defeated. It led to the country's enslavement for a thousand years, he said. “I am talking about the events of a thousand years ago for a reason. I am witnessing another opportunity before our country, the first year of Amrit Kaal.”

Slotting the current juncture in Indian history in civilisation terms, the PM said that “Maa Bharti has been awakened” and in the past nine-10 years, India has emerged as a “vishwa mitra (a friend of the world)”, with it discovering its “national consciousness” of trust – “our trust in each individual and that of each individual in government.” He said the country was at a “milestone” between a thousand years of slavery and a thousand years of grand future that is about to come.