Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history with his 11th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, becoming only the third Prime Minister to achieve this milestone.
His speech further solidified his place in Indian history, surpassing his immediate predecessor Manmohan Singh, who addressed the nation ten times during his tenure.
The record for the most consecutive Independence Day addresses remains with Jawaharlal Nehru, who hoisted the national flag 17 times from 1947 to 1964.
Indira Gandhi follows Nehru closely, having raised the flag 16 times during her two non-consecutive terms (1966-1977 and 1980-1984).
PM Modi’s achievement surpasses Manmohan Singh’s record, who served as Prime Minister during the UPA government from 2004 to 2014.
Notably, Gulzarilal Nanda and Chandra Shekhar are the only Prime Ministers who did not have the opportunity to address the nation from the Red Fort.
Gulzarilal Nanda served in two brief terms in 1964 and 1966, while Chandra Shekhar was in office from November 1990 to June 1991.
Lal Bahadur Shastri and Morarji Desai each addressed the nation twice during their tenures.
In his 78th Independence Day speech, PM Modi laid out a vision for India’s future, focusing on innovation, growth, and positioning the country as a global leader.
He emphasized the need for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to replace discriminatory communal laws, advocating for a secular framework to ensure equality.
The Prime Minister also addressed social issues, including violence against women, calling for serious discussions and stringent punishments to deter offenders.
“We must protect our country from those who fail to recognize India’s progress,” he warned, urging vigilance against pessimism.
PM Modi also praised the middle class for its role in national development and promised efforts to reduce government interference in daily life.
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