75th I-Day: PM Modi says hand-holding of deprived communities necessary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that hand-holding of deprived communities is necessary as he unfurled the national flag at the historic Red Fort to mark India's 75th Independence Day.

In his customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said it is being ensured that no one is left behind in India's journey of development. He also announced a Rs 100 lakh crore 'Gatishakti' initiative to bring employment opportunities for the youth, help local manufacturers become globally competitive and aid in holistic infrastructure growth.

"Hand holding has to be done of those sections and regions that are deprived and are behind. Reservation is being ensured for Dalits, STs, backwards and general category poor," the prime minister said.

"We are ensuring that no one gets left behind in India's journey of development," he said.

He said that medical courses in India will now have a reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) under the All India Quota Scheme. "A law has been passed in Parliament to give states' the power to make their own OBC lists," he added.

The government recently announced that the medical and dental courses in India will have a 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and 10 percent for Economically Weaker Sections under the All India Quota Scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

The Red Fort was decked up with flowers and national flags for the occasion. Strict security arrangements were made around the Red Fort.

India's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru had unfurled the Tricolour for the first time on August 15, 1947 to mark India's Independence Day.

Continuing his address, Modi said that we will have to ensure to meet our goal of building Aatmanirbhar Bharat when we celebrate 100 years of India's Independence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded scientists, doctors and paramedical staff for their role in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

"During the coronavirus global pandemic, our doctors, our nurses, our paramedical staff, scientists engaged in making vaccines, citizens engaged in the fight, they all deserve to be worshipped," he said during his Independence Day speech.

He paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Rani Lakshmibai, Subhas Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters for their roles in the freedom struggle.

Modi also praised India's Olympic players for making the country proud during the recently concluded Tokyo Games. The Olympic contingent was present at the Red Fort.

The Pm said that the government's focus is to make small farmers, who own less than two hectares of land and comprise over 80 percent of all farmers, the country's pride.

"We are witnessing the rapid transformation of our villages," the PM said while stressing that digital entrepreneurs are being nurtured in villages too.

In 75 weeks of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', 75 'Vande Bharat' trains will connect different parts of country, the prime minister announced. He further said that the capitals of northeast states will soon be connected with the railways. The region, he added, is also getting connected with Bangladesh, Myanmar and southeast Asia.

The development of Jammu and Kashmir is visible on the ground, Modi said, adding that the delimitation exercise is on and preparations are underway for assembly polls there.

The prime minister, gave a call for 'Sabka Prayas' along with 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' for building a new India. India has to march ahead with new pledges for the next 25 years, Modi said.

(With inputs from PTI)