Narendra Modi pays tribute to Nehru, lauds Olympians & Covid warriors in Independence Day address
As India marked another milestone on Sunday celebrating the 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, lauded India’s Olympic contingent, frontline and healthcare workers and Covid warriors, and paid tribute to freedom fighters and makers of a new India.
After unfurling the Tricolour at the Red Fort, PM Modi, while drawing reference to the decades-long freedom struggle, said, “I would like to begin by conveying greetings on this special occasion of Independence Day. This is a day to remember our great freedom fighters. Be it Vallabhbhai Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri, or Jawaharlal Nehru, we are thankful to our leaders who brought Independence.”
Lauding the 2020 Olympic contingent, the PM said, “The athletes who have made us proud at Tokyo Olympics are here amongst us today. I urge the nation to applaud their achievement today. They have not only won our hearts but also inspired future generations.” Around 240 Olympians, support staff, and Sports Authority of India and sports federation officials are part of this year’s celebrations at the Red Fort.
Expressing his gratitude towards all frontline and healthcare workers who helped the country fight the Covid-19 pandemic, Modi said, “During the pandemic, our doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, sanitation workers and scientists who were developing vaccines were working with a sense of service towards the nation. All those who devoted every moment to serve others in this period deserve our appreciation.”
Praising the vaccination programme of the country, he added, “Indians have fought this battle with a lot of patience. We have had many challenges but we worked with extraordinary pace in every area. It’s a result of the strength of our industrialists and scientists, that today, India doesn’t need to depend on any other nation for vaccines. We can proudly say that the largest Covid-19 vaccination programme is being run in India today. More than 54 crore people have received their shots so far.”
Modi also pitched set the 100th Independence Day as the target to fulfill the Atmanirbhar Bharat plan. “Now, we have to move towards making 100 per cent efforts. We have to make sure that 100 per cent of villages have roads, 100 per cent of households have a bank account, 100 per cent of beneficiaries have Ayushman Bharat cards and 100 per cent of eligible people have a gas connection under the Ujjwala scheme.”
“A time comes in the development journey of every country when that nation defines itself from a new end when it takes itself forward with new resolutions. Today, that time has come in India’s development journey,” he added.
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