On the eve of the 77th Independence Day, the culmination of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - a government initiative commemorating 75 years of Independence since its inception in 2021 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his warm wishes to the nation and paid tribute to the valiant freedom fighters. He also reasserted the commitment to realize their visionary aspirations.
New Delhi: “Sending my heartfelt wishes on Independence Day. We pay homage to our heroic freedom fighters and renew our pledge to uphold their ideals. Jai Hind!” shared the Prime Minister on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
आप सभी को स्वतंत्रता दिवस की अनेकानेक शुभकामनाएं। आइए, इस ऐतिहासिक अवसर पर अमृतकाल में विकसित भारत के संकल्प को और सशक्त बनाएं। जय हिंद!
Best wishes on Independence Day. We pay homage to our great freedom fighters and reaffirm our commitment to fulfilling their vision. Jai Hind!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2023
Today, PM Modi is set to deliver his tenth consecutive Independence Day address at the historic Red Fort in Delhi. Here are the 10 key highlights:
1. At 7.30 am, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag and subsequently address the nation. Esteemed attendees include cabinet ministers, political leaders, the three service chiefs, and bureaucrats.
2. This year marks the culmination of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a government initiative launched in 2021 to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence.
3. A bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers is expected to attend and listen to the Prime Minister’s address. The Red Fort will be adorned with floral decorations incorporating the G20 logo.
4. In line with the government’s vision of “Jan Bhagidari,” around 1,800 special guests from diverse professions such as nurses, village leaders, teachers, farmers, and fishermen have been invited to the event.
5. The “Har Ghar Tiranga” (Every Home a Flag) program, encouraging citizens to display the national flag at their residences, continues this year. PM Modi has also encouraged the public to change their social media profile images to feature the national flag.
6. Several selfie points have been established across Delhi to showcase various government initiatives. Notable locations include the National War Memorial, India Gate, New Delhi Railway Station, Pragati Maidan, and Raj Ghat. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence is hosting an online selfie contest on the MyGov portal from August 15-20.
7. Rigorous security measures will be in place for the celebrations at the Red Fort, including the deployment of 1,000 facial recognition cameras, anti-drone systems, and over 10,000 police personnel. Unlike previous years, there will be no Covid-related restrictions.
8. In his 2018 Independence Day address, leading up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi introduced the Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme, the world’s largest government-funded healthcare initiative.
9. In her address on the preceding evening, President of India Droupadi Murmu expressed her desire for Indian daughters to forge ahead and overcome challenges, emphasizing the focus on women’s economic empowerment.
10. President Murmu highlighted the Constitution’s commitment to equality, stressing that every Indian is a coequal citizen with equal rights and responsibilities within the nation.
