NEW DELHI: With Covid-19 protocols in place, Red Fort on Monday adorned a celebratory look as Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the 76th Independence Day speech.
On his arrival through the Lahori Gate entrance, where he was received by defence minister Rajnath Singh and other officials, Modi inspected the Guard of Honour before proceeding to the ramparts.
Kits in the form of jute bags that had “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” etched on them were provided to all spectators. Apart from masks, sanitisers and water bottles, there were caps with the Tricolour and miniature versions of the national flag printed with “75 years” and “Independence Day Celebrations 2022” in the kits to make this year’s August 15 even more memorable.
From murals, paintings and posters depicting various stages of the Independence struggle and freedom fighters to Indian Air Force choppers showering petals on an audience that cheered on, those gathered were absorbed in the momentous occasion of India completing 75 years of Independence.
Donning a traditional light blue kurta, a half-jacket and a headgear and safa trail that had tricolour stripes on it, Modi arrived at Red Fort around 7.20am and began delivering his speech shortly after unfurling the national flag.
Apart from Anganwadi workers, street vendors and beneficiaries of the Mudra scheme, NCC cadets from different countries were also invited to be a part of the celebrations.
The PM’s speech, which was over an hour long, drew loud applause at several junctures, especially when patriotism was invoked or when he spoke of how gender equality was the key to a united India and that it was essential to boost domestic manufacturing and propel India to be a developed nation by 2047.
While some NCC alumni and cadets said they enjoyed every bit of the event, others said they hoped Modi would deliver on issues like women empowerment, electricity in every household and digital India mentioned in his speech.
Stating that the PM had rightly pointed out that it was the country’s youth that carried the torch of development, Himanshu Kumar Gupta, a resident of Delhi, said, “Unity among youth is very important and only then can a country move forward and become successful in all endeavours. Our army is one of the strongest in the world. Just like how they are fighting on the borders to protect us, the youth should also fight in making India the number one in the world across different spheres of life.”
For Sumit Singh, it was the best experience of his life as he got to witness the grand celebration and hear the PM’s speech for the first time from the centre stage.
Aishwarya, a NCC cadet from Kerala, said she had come with other cadets to celebrate “Vajra Jayanti Yatra”. “All said and done, I sincerely hope that our PM proves his words true,” she added.
One of the youngest persons in uniform was seven-year old Zain, who was accompanied by his brother for the PM’s address. “I liked parades and watching the PM deliver his speech,” he said with a gleaming face.
Urging spectators to join in, Modi ended his speech with chants of “Jai Hind,” “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” Before his departure from Red Fort, the PM, as has become the tradition now, walked down the ramparts to greet and interact with over 750 NCC cadets seated in the forecourt.
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