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Congress dubs PM Modi's I-Day speech as 'shallow', says he didn't address corruption

Congress criticises PM Modi's fifth I-Day speech.

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In his last Independence Day speech before Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today presented a picture of rising India under his government, contrasting it with what he termed as "policy paralysis" under the UPA, as he announced the launch date of his signature healthcare scheme covering 50 crore Indians. 

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on the 72nd Independence Day, his fifth speech after the NDA came to power in 2014, Modi also announced the permanent commissioning of women in the armed forces and a plan to send Indian astronauts into space by 2022. "When 125 crore people move towards achieving a goal, there is nothing that cannot happen. In 2014, the people of the country did not just stop at forming the government. They moved together towards nation-building and are continuing to do so," he said.

However, the main opposition party Congress seemed unimpressed with PM Modi's speech. Congress national spokesperson Randeep Surjewala termed the speech shallow. He was quoted by ANI as saying, " PM Modi's last speech on Independence Day proved to be shallow. There was no substance, he didn't speak on corruption of Rafale & Vyapam, Chhattisgarh PDS scam, Chinese encroachment in Doklam & other areas or atmosphere of hatred created in the nation". 

Surjewala further went on to attack PM Modi by saying,  " He should have spoken the truth in his last speech. Mann ki baat nahi kar paate, kam se kam desh ke kaam ki baat to kar paate kyunki ab acche din to aaye nahi ab is desh ko sacche din ka intezar hai aur wo tab aaenge jab Modi ji desh se jaaeng".

Surjewala said that PM Modi should have spoken for the benefit of people. Taking a jibe at PM, Congress spokesperson said that acche din will only come when Modi is ousted from the office. 

In the nearly 80-minute speech, Modi devoted much of the time in presenting the report card of his government and also touched on a host of burning issues including the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, crime against women, legislation on instant triple talaq and state of the farm sector. Accused by the opposition of running a pro-business and pro-rich dispensation, Modi dwelt at length about his government's initiatives to improve the lives of the poor and the backward sections of the society and claimed that five crore people have been lifted out of poverty in the last two years.

Showcasing achievements of his government, Modi said negative reports about India, delayed reforms, fragile economy and red tape were the terms often used for the country under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) while it is being looked at as multi-trillion dollar economy offering red carpet welcome to investors. "India was earlier a sleeping elephant which has woken up now and started running," said Modi, who was wearing a saffron and red Rajasthani-style turban.

On Kashmir, the prime ministers said, "We will move forward by embracing people and not by bullet and abuse (Goli and Gaali)." Hitting out at the Congress regimes, Modi said if the country moved forward at the same pace as in 2013, the last year of the UPA government, it would have taken decades to accomplish what has been achieved in the last four years. 

Highlights of PM Modi's speech

Tamil Connection
PM Modi quotes Tamil poet Subramania Bharati, who said that India will not only emerge as a great nation, but will inspire others as well. He narrated the poetry in Tamil, in a bid to appeal to the voters in Tamil Nadu

Increase providing electricity, gas connections
PM says that the pace of development has significantly increased post 2013. He mentions schemes like rural electrification, swachh bharat, LPG gas connection etc where much more people have been reached in a faster pace than in 2013. 

MSP for farmers
PM Modi says that 1.5 times MSP for farmers was discussed and debated for a long time, but no one implemented it. However, NDA government ensured that farmers get their due. 

Improving Health of Banks 
PM Modi also mentions how IBC Code has been implemented to improve the financial health of banks. PM Modi recalls how OROP has been started which was stuck for decades. 

India leading from front in solar alliance
PM says for next three decades India will drive the global growth.  Modi says that India has become part of many groups of nation, where critical issues are discussed and India's words are taken seriously. He talks about International Solar Alliance and how India is leading in that front. 

The rise of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities
PM Modi says that today people from tier 2 and tier 3 cities are also becoming part of the development project. PM says 13 crore people have taken Mudra loans, 4 crore of them first time loan takers. 

Swachh Bharat and WHO
PM Modi cites WHO report to say that lives of 3 lakh kids have been saved owing to Swachh Bharat Mission. He says that when the scheme was introduced many people mocked it. PM says that the goal is ensure a clean India by next year, which is 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. 

Women empowerment
PM Modi mentions how women have been the change drivers in the society currently. He recalls that for the first time Supreme Court has three women judges. He recalls about cases of rapes in the country. PM Modi says that in MP and Rajasthan, fast track courts have convicted rapists and have given them death sentence. PM says these kind of news should be promoted more so that people are wary of consequences. PM says that for him, rule of the law is important. No one can be allowed to take law in their own hand. 

Sabka Saath, Sabka Paas
PM Modi says Housing, Power, Connectivity, LPG, Sanitation for all is the target of the government. PM says as per Sabka Saath, Sabka Paas, the government doesn't discriminate between any people. 

Space travel
PM Modi makes a big announcement, says by 2022, one Indian will go to space with a tri-colour in hand..

 

With agency inputs

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