Slamming crimes against women, calling for a ‘Secular Civil Code’, underlining the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, launching a political attack on the corrupt and those spreading negativity against India, and reiterating his governance model of reaching the last beneficiary and terror-free India — these were the five big messages from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address on this Independence Day.
In a speech lasting over 90 minutes, the Prime Minister expressed his anguish over crimes against women, in an apparent reference to the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, and implored state governments to act tough and quickly against the perpetrators.
Modi also threw his weight behind his party’s major promises – of a uniform civil code, and ‘One Nation, One Election’ — stressing that it was time for the country to have a “Secular Civil Code” to replace the “communal civil code” that the country has seen so far. Both these promises had featured in the BJP manifesto.
RG Kar Incident
The RG Kar incident has dominated media headlines over the last one week, with people coming out on the streets in West Bengal and across the country.
“We need to stop the atrocities on our women. People are angered by what is been happening to women across the country. All of us need to take this issue seriously, both at the state and central level. Action needs to be quick and swift and media must highlight the punishment given to the perpetrators so that it can act as a deterrent,” the PM said, expressing his pain over the rising crimes against women.
Hindus in Bangladesh
The PM again reiterated his concern for the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh. “I understand the situation in Bangladesh and and it is natural for us to be worried, but I am hoping that the attacks on minorities will stop soon and the rule of law will prevail. Bangladesh must ensure safety of Hindus. We will continue to help development in Bangladesh,” the PM said.
Modi had earlier this week also expressed his worry over the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh amidst reports of attacks on the them and their properties and temples there.
Political Attack, and Corruption
The Prime Minister also launched a political attack against those spreading “negativity” against the country and who could not digest the country’s progress. Modi has made similar comments earlier too at the start of the Parliament session and targeting the opposition parties.
“Some people can’t see India’s progress. They are full of negativity. The country needs to safeguard itself from such people who want to lead India to anarchy and destruction. People need to understand this dirty design,” the Prime Minister said from Red Fort.
Modi also promised tough action against the corrupt, saying there will be no compromise on that front. “Our country has overcome an entire regime of corruption. I have opened a warfront against the corrupt. There have been personalised attack on me, but my prestige is not more important than the cause of this Nation. I want to install a fear in the minds of the corrupt so that they cannot have the courage to cheat the common man,” Modi said.
He also slammed those encouraging corruption and singing praises of corruption and the corrupt. “We will continue to have zero tolerance on corruption,” the PM said.
Governance Model
Modi underlined his governance model, citing how the country was once a victim of terrorist attacks but has now become bold and strong as robust actions like surgical strikes and air strikes had filled people with pride. He also said ‘Developed India-2047’ are not just words in a speech but a lot of hard work is going on behind this and suggestions are being taken from crores of people of the country.
“If 40 crore individuals could successfully achieve the dream of independence, then imagine the potential of 140 crore people now,” the PM said.
Modi said that unfortunately, after independence, people in our country had to go through a kind of “mai-baap” culture and to keep asking the government for benefits and extending hands before the government. “But we changed this model of governance. Today the government itself goes to the beneficiary,” the PM said. Modi added that the ‘Chalega dekhenge’ norm rule existed earlier in form of a status quo but his government fought towards changing this discourse.
Modi also said that there are a lot of challenges especially from around the globe, but said he wants to tell such powers that India has not pushed any country towards war and the need of the hour to understand the “Sanskar of India”.
The PM also said India was ready to host the Olympics in 2036 and wanted to bring one lakh youth into the political system who have no family background in politics till date.
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