Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the historic Red Fort in Delhi on the 79th Independence Day, delivering his longest speech so far at 103 minutes. Modi called this a festival of 140 crore resolutions, with a vision for ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

PM Modi began by stating, “Wishing everyone a very happy Independence Day. May this day inspire us to keep working even harder to realise the dreams of our freedom fighters and build a Viksit Bharat. Jai Hind!” He called Independence Day a festival of hope and aspirations: “This great festival of freedom is a festival of 140 crore resolutions.”

He paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, hoisted the flag at Red Fort, and honoured the freedom fighters: “Whether it’s the deserts or the peaks of the Himalayas, the shores of the ocean or the bustling cities, there is one voice across the nation: we all love India more than our lives.”

National Security

The Prime Minister’s speech strongly focused on national security and self-reliance in defence. He highlighted India’s recent large-scale military actions:

“Operation Sindoor would not have succeeded if India were not ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant). After April 22, we gave armed forces a free hand to respond to terrorists. The Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor… They struck multiple terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, killing over 100 terrorists. Pakistan then launched a massive missile and drone attack, which was intercepted by India. In retaliation, India struck airfields in Pakistan. A ceasefire was announced on May 10.”

Modi sent a strong message: “India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats anymore, we won’t fall for any blackmail.” He further said, “What the Indian armed forces have done during Operation Sindoor was not seen in many, many years. We have set a new normal in dealing with cross-border terrorism… Our enemies had no idea about the capability of ‘Made in India’, which weapons are simple and which are powerful enough to destroy them in a moment. Just think, if we were not self-reliant, would we have been able to carry out Operation Sindoor with such speed?”

He also added, “I salute our brave soldiers who punished masters of terror beyond their imagination.”

Agriculture and Farmers

PM Modi urged to review old agreements: “India has now decided, blood and water will not flow together. The people have come to realise that the Indus Waters Treaty is unjust. Water from the Indus River system has been irrigating the lands of the enemy, while our own farmers have suffered. What kind of agreement is this that has caused such immense loss to our farmers for the past seven decades?”

He stressed, “Slavery made us poor. It made us dependent… Our farmers led us toward self-reliance and ensured our food security. Even today, a nation’s true pride lies in self-reliance, and that is the foundation of Viksit Bharat.”

Economy, Atmanirbhar Bharat and GST Reforms

Self-reliance was a major thread throughout: “Dependence on others raises questions about a nation’s independence. It is unfortunate when dependence becomes a habit, a dangerous one. That’s why we must remain aware and committed to becoming self-reliant. Self-reliance is not just about exports, imports, the rupee, or the dollar. It is about our capabilities, our strength to stand on our own.”

The Prime Minister announced a big economic reform: “By Diwali, we are bringing next-generation GST reforms. This will reduce the tax burden across the country, especially on daily-use goods. It is my promise–this Diwali will be a double Diwali for the people of India.” This is set to benefit families and traders alike.

Youth and Technology

Modi placed special emphasis on youth and building India’s future through technology: “I have full faith in the capabilities of our youths to make India a developed nation by 2047.” He called for the development of indigenous jet engines for ‘Made in India’ fighter jets and praised achievements in technology and innovation, asking every Indian to participate in the country’s transformation.

Urging unity, he concluded: “For 75 years, the Constitution of India has been showing us the path like a lighthouse.” He appealed to all citizens to work hard and remain united, making self-reliant India the foundation of a truly developed nation.

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