New Delhi, August 15 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation as India observe the 68th Independence Day. India’s 68th Independence Day on Friday will be notable in many ways, most of all the massive public participation that is being planned, no doubt at the instance of the nearly three-month-old government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will unfurl the national flag from the Red Fort, will be speaking to the nation from the historic podium for the first time after his party’s spectacular electoral victory in May.
In keeping with the significance of the occasion and Modi’s own record of turning national days into mega festivals, the NDA government has ensured participation of “aam aadmi”, or common people, in the celebrations and sought to give the national capital a festive look.
This itself will be a departure from previous Independence Day observances where public participation at Red Fort, because of security fears, was largely limited to hundreds of school children, government officials and selected invitees.
Modi’s speech, expected to be extempore, much like many of his speeches, will be watched in India and outside for a vision statement and major policy announcements.
Modi has acquired a reputation, especially during his long election campaign, as a forceful speaker and an engaging orator and he is expected to make the best of his first opportunity to address the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort from where India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had unfurled free India’s flag.
During his days as Gujarat chief minister, Modi had turned Independence day into a mega festival, holding the event at different venues in the state.
-INDIA TODAY
