PM Modi warns Pak, unveils GST reforms, vows to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047 in I-Day speech
In his 103-minute speech, Modi made several announcements and resolutions in the fields of defence, national security, trade, and employment
In a stern warning to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 15) said India will not tolerate nuclear blackmail anymore and give a befitting reply to the enemy, while asserting that it has now set a "new normal" of not differentiating between terrorists and those who nurture terrorism.
In his 103-minute speech, also his 12 consecutive Independence Day address, Modi, speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi, made several announcements and resolutions in the fronts of defence, trad,e and employment to achieve his government’s goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Diwali gift
Among them was the prime minister’s promise of a big Diwali gift in form of next-generation GST reforms under which he said the taxes paid by people would reduce drastically, benefiting small industries and MSMEs.
He said that for a nation, the greatest test of self-respect is its self-reliance and stressed that the foundation of a 'Viksit Bharat' is also 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
"Those who are dependent on others raise a question mark over their own freedom, and this happens even more when we get used to being dependent on others. That is why we must remain aware. Self-reliance is not limited to export and imports. It is also related to our capabilities. Therefore, to increase our capabilities, we must be self-reliant," he asserted.
The prime minister said the country saw the wonders of 'Made in India' in Operation Sindoor.
"Had we not been self-reliant, would we have been able to carry out Operation Sindoor at such a level? In the last 10 years, we set our target to become self-reliant in the defence sector, and today we are seeing the results," Modi said.
Swipe at US?
In a message directed at the US, Modi said that India will not compromise on the interests of farmers, livestock rearers and fishermen, asserting that he is standing like a wall to protect them.
The remarks are important as the US is seeking duty concessions from India in the agriculture and dairy sectors in the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), being negotiated between the two countries.
The US has also imposed steep tariffs on India. Trump has ratcheted up tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, which will come into effect from August 27. At present, an additional 25 per cent tariff is there on Indian goods entering the American market.
"Modi is standing like a wall against any harmful policy related to the farmers, fishermen, and cattle rearers of India. India will never accept any compromise regarding its farmers, its livestock rearers, its fishermen," he said.
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Live Updates
- 15 Aug 2025 3:46 PM IST
'Sanghi-saathi' should thank British on completing 100 years: Akhilesh on PM lauding RSS
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday took a veiled dig at the RSS after it was lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech, saying it should thank the British on completion of its 100 years as some organisations were made by them so that the country could be divided on religious lines.
Speaking to reporters at the Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow after hoisting the tricolour, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also questioned the prime minister's 'swadeshi' pitch, saying those who are swadeshi only by speech should become swadeshi in mind.
He hit out at the ruling BJP, saying it should not tell lies and no politics should be done on this day.
"This group of Sanghi saathis... I want to remind them that when the BJP was formed and the person who became the first national president of the BJP, in its first session, it was decided that the political ideology of the party would be socialist and secular."
"And, on this completion of 100 years, they should congratulate the British. Because we have heard and some historians have also written that some organisations were made by the British so that 'Bharat' could be divided on religious lines, a gulf could be created between Hindus and Muslims.
"Hence, the Sanghi saathis, whose first ideology is socialist and secular, they should remember it, so that the country can move forward," Yadav said.
- 15 Aug 2025 2:31 PM IST
PM has dishonoured memory of martyrs by praising RSS in I-Day speech: CPI(M)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday said it is "deeply regrettable" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to praise the RSS in his Independence Day speech, and called it an organisation with a "dubious historical record".
In a message greeting the nation on the 79th Independence Day, CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was banned following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and historians have documented the organisation's role in "inciting communal riots".
"My heartiest greetings on the 79th Independence Day. India’s journey to freedom from colonial rule was long and arduous. Martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Ashfaqullah Khan live in our memories not just today, but every single day," Baby said in a post on X.
"From Mahatma Gandhi to Subhas Chandra Bose, from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to Com. P Krishna Pillai, EMS, AKG, Akkamma Cheriyan -- and countless others -- the selfless struggles they waged form the very foundation of our independence," he said.
He alleged that by lauding the RSS, the prime minister "has dishonoured the memory of our martyrs".
"It is deeply regrettable that Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, chose to praise the RSS — an organisation with a dubious historical record. An organisation which had no role whatsoever in these struggles and has consistently sought to undermine national unity along religious lines," he said.
- 15 Aug 2025 12:22 PM IST
Jairam Ramesh slams PM Modi’s Independence Day speech, calls it 'stale, hypocritical, troubling'
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address as repetitive and lacking substance, accusing him of recycling slogans without delivering results on key promises such as semiconductor manufacturing, farm reforms, and job creation.
He alleged the PM ignored pressing issues like economic distress and unemployment, eroded federalism, and politicised Independence Day by praising the RSS, as he is now reliant on the organisation’s support for his political future.
- 15 Aug 2025 12:11 PM IST
President Murmu pays tribute at the National War Memorial
President Droupadi Murmu paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives, at National War Memorial, on Independence Day.
Chief of Defence Forces (CDS) and the three service chiefs were also with her. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and MoS Defence Sanjay Seth were also present.
- 15 Aug 2025 12:06 PM IST
Omar Abdullah hoists the Tricolour at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah hoists the Tricolour at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar on Independence Day.
- 15 Aug 2025 12:05 PM IST
UP CM Yogi Adityanath hoists Tricolour at Vidhan Bhawan
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath hoisted the Tricolour at Vidhan Bhawan on the occasion of 79th Independence Day.
- 15 Aug 2025 12:00 PM IST
Owaisi hoists National Flag, calls for global peace on Independence Day
AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi hoisted the national flag on Independence Day. He also released balloons with the words "No War, Peace in World" printed on them.
- 15 Aug 2025 11:57 AM IST
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy pays tribute to Gandhiji, hoists Tricolour in Hyderabad
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy marked Independence Day by offering floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and hoisting the national flag at his residence in Hyderabad.
- 15 Aug 2025 11:43 AM IST
Mamata Banerjee hoists the National Flag in Kolkata
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hoists the Tricolour at the Red Road, in Kolkata on Independence Day.
