80th I-Day LIVE | Congress hits back at PM Modi over 'dimaagi Naxals' attack

PM Modi urges Opposition to back Women’s Reservation Bill

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged opposition parties to back the women’s reservation legislation, arguing that the issue has remained caught in political “akhada” (wrangling) for four decades.

Speaking from the Red Fort on Independence Day, PM Modi appealed for consensus on the proposed constitutional amendment, which seeks 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and an expansion of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816.

"Under the shadow of the national flag, I appeal to all political parties: let's come together in honour of those women and provide 33 per cent reservation to our mothers and daughters in assemblies and Lok Sabha and ensure their representation, so that they contribute in evolving India's policies," he said.

"I urge all political parties to come forward in implementing the women reservation Bill and honour them. They should also take credit for its passage and contribute, but give that right to our women," he said.

The government remains short of the numbers required for passage.

Congress takes 'Ireland I-Day' dig at PM Modi's pocket squares

The Congress on Saturday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the sequencing of his tri-coloured pocket squares, saying it seems he is celebrating the Independence Day of Ireland instead of India's.

For the Independence Day event, Modi paired his white kurta and chocolate brown vest with the traditional turban, common in Rajasthani and Gujarati culture. He also sported three pocket squares in saffron, green and white colours.

Some users on social media pointed out that the pocket squares, supposed to depict the tricolour, were not in the right sequence.

In a post on X, Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera shared a picture from the event and said, "Lagta hai sahib ne Urdu mein Tiranga pehna hai. Ya phir Bharat ki jagah Ireland ka Independence Day mana rahay hain." The Ireland flag has three colours -- green, white, and saffron from left to right.

It's his desperation: Cong hits back at PM's 'dimaagi Naxals' attack, dubs him 'master abuser'

The Congress hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday for his "dimaagi Naxals" attack and termed it a "sure sign of desperation".

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the prime minister first attacked his opponents as "urban Naxals" and is now calling them "dimaagi Naxals". He termed Modi a "master abuser" in entire political science.

"First he called his opponents 'urban naxals'. Now he calls them 'dimaagi naxals'. It is a sure sign of his desperation. It is a separate matter that he ends up doing whatever these so-called 'urban naxals' or now 'dimaagi naxals' are demanding or advocating.

"It is not for nothing that the PM has a MA being the 'Master Abuser' in Entire Political Science that he is," Ramesh said in a post on X.

In his 13th consecutive Independence Day address to the nation, Modi hailed the elimination of Naxalism from the country but cautioned against lowering the guard, saying "armed Naxals may have gone, but dimaagi (intellectual) Naxals are lurking around".

"We have succeeded in getting rid of armed Naxals in the jungles, but the 'dimaagi Naxals' are looking for opportunities to create violence, unrest.... They want to drag the society on the wrong path," the prime minister said.

"These intellectual Naxals have to be identified and isolated," he added. 

TN CM Vijay hoists national flag in Chennai; thanks Gen Z

In his maiden Independence Day address, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday hoisted the national flag at the historic Fort St. George (State Secretariat) in Chennai to mark the 80th Independence Day. The event marked the first time Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), performed the ceremonial flag-hoisting as the state’s top executive.

Vijay appeared visibly emotional while inspecting the contingent of soldiers and glancing towards the gallery where his parents, ministers, and other dignitaries were seated. Actor Trisha, Vijay’s father SA Chandrasekhar, and state ministers were among those present.

Addressing the gathering after the flag-hoisting, Vijay paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters both famous and unnamed, who sacrificed their lives, property, and everything for India’s independence. “I offer my heroic salutations personally to each one of them,” he said.

He underscored that true freedom emerges only when people unite after realising they are being treated as slaves. “In that unity, caste, religion, language and ethnicity all break and shatter. Only there is real freedom achieved. That is the freedom we received under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi on this very day, August 15, in 1947.”

Vijay declared that protecting Tamil Nadu from bribery and corruption was itself equivalent to a great liberation. “Our government is working precisely towards that goal,” he said, framing the fight against graft as a continuation of the freedom struggle.

The Chief Minister specifically thanked the Tamil people across the world, the people of Tamil Nadu, and the “Gen Z young comrades” for giving him the opportunity to hoist the national flag at the 386-year-old fort on the 80th Independence Day and to deliver the address. “My heartfelt gratitude to all of you,” he said, highlighting the overwhelming support that transcended caste and religious barriers and rejected money and muscle power to establish a people-centric, social-justice government.

PM Modi's I-Day speech shortest in 4 years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a 75-minute Independence Day speech on Saturday, the shortest in four years and his fourth shortest ever.

On India's 79th Independence Day last year, Modi had delivered a 103-minute speech, breaking his own record of a 98-minute address delivered on the 78th Independence Day in 2024.

His longest Independence Day speech before 2024 was for 96 minutes in 2016, while his shortest speech was in 2017, when he spoke for 56 minutes.

Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on Saturday. Last year, he had broken Indira Gandhi's record by delivering 12 consecutive speeches from the Red Fort to stand next only to Jawaharlal Nehru, who delivered 17 Independence Day addresses in a row.

Modi delivered his first Independence Day speech in 2014 and it lasted 65 minutes.

His speech in 2015 lasted 88 minutes. In 2018, Modi's address was for 83 minutes. In 2019, he spoke for nearly 92 minutes.

In 2020 Modi's Independence Day address lasted 90 minutes.

The prime minister's Independence Day speech lasted 88 minutes in 2021 and in 2022, he spoke for 74 minutes.

In 2023, Modi's speech was for 90 minutes.

Before Modi, Nehru in 1947 and I K Gujral in 1997 had the longest speeches for 72 minutes and 71 minutes, respectively.

Nehru and Indira Gandhi also gave the shortest speeches on record for 14 minutes in 1954 and 1966, respectively.

Former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee also gave some of the shortest Independence Day speeches from the Red Fort.

Singh's speeches in 2012 and 2013 lasted only 32 and 35 minutes, respectively. Vajpayee's speeches in 2002 and 2003 were even shorter at 25 and 30 minutes. 

'Dimagi Naxals' looking to create unrest, must identify, isolate them: Modi

Maoist extremism is breathing its last in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, as he called for "identifying and isolating" the "dimagi Naxals".

The prime minister said Naxalism and Maoism destroyed the future of several youths.

"For four decades, huge areas and people were in their clutches under the fear of guns.

Over 3,500 security personnel died protecting people; the number is higher than those who die in war," he said.

"When we came to power in 2014, we swore to rid the country of Naxals. I am happy Maoist violence is taking its last breath," he said, adding that several areas have become free of Naxalites and are becoming developed.

Modi added, "For years, those with Naxal mentality had their place in the power corridors. They were in government committees as advisors. Maoist thinking impacted policies.

"We have succeeded in getting rid of armed Naxals in the jungles, but 'dimagi Naxals' (intellectual Naxals) are looking for opportunities to create violence, unrest … They want to drag the society on the wrong path," he said.

"These 'dimagi Naxals' have to be identified and isolated, and connect the youth with the mainstream," he added.

Modi announces free online coaching for youth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced free online coaching for aspirants preparing for competitive exams to ease the financial burden on their families.

"Coaching classes burden the poor and the middle class. We will provide free online coaching for various exams," Modi said.

"Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching class, they are not a prestigious family," he said.

The prime minister said he assures these families that they can save "thousands of crores of rupees" spent on coaching, be close to their children, and care for them.

"And therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various examinations for the youth. We have digital public infrastructure; we have excellent talent and teachers. By bringing these resources together, we are going to build a complete network to provide free coaching to the youth of the country," Modi said.

India strong contender for 2036 Olympics; talent hunt to ensure larger participation: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is a strong contender to host the 2036 Olympics and to ensure that the country has a strong presence in the mega event, a nationwide talent hunt would be launched to identify prospects in the age group of 5 to 15.

Modi said the government's flagship Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which was launched in 2014, has been a major success in providing support to athletes.

"India is making space for itself in the world of sports. We hear our national anthem frequently and see our tri-colour going up very often. TOPS has achieved great success. Whether it is Khelo India Games, University Games, Beach Games, Winter Games, or sports training, sports medicine, sports nutrition, India is moving ahead at great pace," he said.

"India's performance is improving, and we are strong contenders to become an Olympic host in 2036. We are hosting the CWG in 2030. There are about 40 disciplines in Olympics, with nearly 350 events. It is sad that we are not able even compete in at least two third of these events because we are not even able to qualify.

"We have decided that in 2036, we should have participation in at least three fourth events. We are launching a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify prospects in every corner of the country. They will get special training to become world class athletes," he added.

India is hosting the 2030 CWG in Ahmedabad, which is also in the race to host the 2036 Olympics.

Brought 650 new universities, doubled medical seats, since 2014: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country added 650 new universities in the last decade and more than doubled the number of medical seats since 2014.

Modi said the government brought in a new education policy after decades.

"For 35 years, there was no education policy. We brought a new education policy," he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

"From 2004 to 2014, there were fewer than 350 universities. And today, within 10-12 years, nearly 650 new universities have been added," the prime minister said.

"Before 2014, there were only 400 medical seats, and today nearly 850 medical seats are available," he added.

The prime minister said India is emerging as an attractive destination for foreign universities.

"... now foreign universities are also coming to India. Arrangements have also been made so that our youth can obtain foreign degrees within India," Modi said. 

In 12 years, India transformed from 'Fragile 5' to world's fastest-growing major economy: Modi

India has transformed from 'Fragile Five' to the world's fastest-growing major economy in the last 12 years, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he highlighted the strides the country made during his tenure.

He said India was once counted among the 'Fragile Five'.

The world had dumped India's economy in the 'Fragile Five', he said.

However, India has, within just 12 years, emerged as the world's fastest-growing major economy, he said.

After Independence in 1947, the prime minister said, India had big dreams, but progress often fell short of the pace the country aspired to achieve.

Today, India is moving ahead with unprecedented speed and confidence, and now, no force can stop the resolve of 140 crore Indians, he added.

He further said India has a big dream to build a Viksit Bharat or Developed India by 2047, powered by the strength and resolve of 140 crore Indians.

"When the world's most populous nation sets its sights on becoming a developed country, it sends a powerful message to the world and is reshaping how the world sees India," he said, adding that any nation becomes great when it achieves its accomplishments.

Highlighting the achievements of his government in the past 12 years, Modi said defence production has increased four times, electronic manufacturing has risen seven times, modern railway coach production has increased 21 times, internet users have increased four times, and digital transactions have expanded 100 times.

Modi also said the country is moving towards becoming a major player in the semiconductor sector.

India has already begun production at three semiconductor plants, and five to eight more plants are expected to come up in the coming years, the prime minister said.

The prime minister also spoke on emerging technologies and announced that one crore youth will be trained in skills related to artificial intelligence (AI).