Prime Minister Narendra Modi Addresses the Nation from the Red Fort on its 69th Independence Day Saturday Aug 15,2015

In a first for August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not touch upon foreign policy - despite his numerous trips - and focussed wholly on domestic issues

Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on its 69th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on issues ranging from financial inclusion and sanitation to good governance and combating corruption, while promising ex-servicemen that he has accepted their demand of "One Rank-One Pension."

"I assure the servicemen, and I am saying it under the Tricolour from the Red Fort, we have accepted OROP," Modi said in second Independence Day speech since taking office in May 2014.

"We are now discussing how to implement it. The way the talks are going on I am expecting something positive," he said.

The veterans want pensions benchmarked at the 2014 rates and reject the government offer of 2011 rates. Government sources say that will mean budgeting Rs. 20,000 crore for OROP rather than the Rs. 8,000 crore that it is otherwise expected to cost. 

Reiterating his promise of gifting Mahatma Gandhi a "clean India" on his 145th birth anniversary in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again called on Indians to join his "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" (Clean India Campaign), which he launched on  Aug 15,2014

"Who has given maximum strength to Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan?," he said. "It is the children of India."

Recalling his promise to build separate toilets for boys and girls in all schools within a year, Modi said that the Indian government had almost reached the goal of constructing 4.25 lakh toilets in 2.62 lakh schools

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to get rid of corruption in India, but warned that the problem was like "deemak" (termites) eating up the country.
"Corruption has spread like a deemak. We need to put an injection in every square meter, every month," he said. "But I promise you that I will give you a India free of corruption."
Modi said that 800 cases of corruption before his government came to power, but now 1,800 cases were registered with the CBI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gave a call for over one lakh Start-Ups in India, and encouraged banks to give loans, especially to tribals and Dalits, who want to set up these projects. "In coming days, we will promote start-up all over the country," he said. "We must be Number 1 in start-ups. Start-up India and Stand up India."

On the issue of financial inclusion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 17 crore accounts have been opened under the Jan Dhan Yojna, which was announced in August, 2014, and the poor have deposited over Rs20,000 crores. “I respect the richness of the poor," he said.
"Bank accounts are essential for integrating the poor into the financial system," he said. "After all, who are the banks for They are for the poor."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India's success rests on the shoulders of 125 crore Indians, who constitute "Team India."
"This is no ordinary morning. This is a morning of hope of the dreams and aspirations of 125 crore Indians," he said.
"This is Team India, a team of 125 crore Indians. This is the Team that makes the Nation and takes our Nation to new heights."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi railed against caste-based discrimination and religious violence in the country. "Casteism and communalism will not be tolerated in India,"

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  promised to provide electricity to 18,500 power-less villages in the country in the next 1,000 days.
"There are 18,500 villages in the country where electricity is yet to reach. If we keep working with old ways, then maybe we will take 10 years to get electricity poles to these villages," PM Modi said in his Independence Day address.
PM Modi said he met government officials and asked them how to proceed in order to provide electricity supply. "The officials replied that they can do it only by 2019," he said.
"The country is not ready to wait that long," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that some people are worried about tough law on black money which has ensured that nobody dares to take it out of the country

On the issue of black money we took a lot of steps within such a short time, we formed a SIT under SC's guidance the day we took over, he added.

The government recently notified the three-month compliance window beginning July 1. The tax and penalty on such declared assets or funds can be paid till December 31.

Those availing the one-time 'compliance window' would be required to pay a tax of 30 percent and a penalty of a similar amount.

The compliance window is part of the new anti-black money law that was passed by Parliament in May and notified on May 26 after the President's assent.

Making the first disclosure on black money Modi said that Rs 6500 crores have been disclosed under compliance window of black money and foreign assets law

Modi said that sometimes we have to take injections and medicines despite caring about the side effects of the same. “When the illness is dangerous, an injection is given, there could be side effects. But this is the cure,” he said on black money law.

Delhi Metro Offers Free Ride To Red Fort For Prime Minister's Independence Day Speech

Delhiites travelling to Red Fort to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech will get a free ride on Delhi Metro.They will be handed over a slip which will allow them travel free of cost to and fro Chandni Chowk
Metro facilities will be available from 4:30 AM, instead of the normal time of 5:30 AM.
Meanwhile, parking facilities will not be available at Delhi Metro stations from 6.00 am today till 2.00 pm on Saturday in view of security measures adopted on the occasion of Independence Day.