08:12 PM sports saffron headgear during I-Day address: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today continues his tradition of wearing turbans at the Independence Day celebrations and is sporting a saffron turban during his address at the Red Fort.
Modi had worn an orange and green coloured Jodhpuri bandhej safa for his maiden Independence day speech as PM in 2014.
He continued the tradition by wearing a turban with red and green stripes with a long safa in 2015 while he wore a red-pink-yellow coloured Rajasthani safa in 2016.
Last year, the Prime Minister had chosen an off-white and yellow-red turban with a long trail.
— PTI
08:06 In I-Day speech, PM Modi gives four-year report card:
Modi talks of nation building in his final speech as PM before the country goes to polls in 2019.
Here are highlights:
>> Since 2014, I am experiencing that the 125 crore Indians have not stopped after electing their government, they are continuously working towards the progress of the Nation
>> We are very proud of what we have achieved but at the same time, we also have to look at where we have come from. That is when we will realise the unbelievable strides the nation has taken
>> If we had continued at the same pace at which toilets were being constructed in 2013, the pace at which electrification was happening in 2013, then it would have taken us decades to complete
>> The demand for higher MSP was pending for years. From farmers to political parties to agriculture experts, everybody was asking about it but nothing happened. With the blessings of the farmers, the decision on MSP was taken by our Government
>> Who did not want the passage of the GST yet it was pending for years? Last year GST became a reality. I want to thank the business community for the success of the GST
>> “We got the insolvency and Bankruptcy code. No one had the courage, but we did it. Why was Benami property act not brought in place? We had the courage to bring it in practice. Our jawans were struggling for the One Rank One Pension policy. You gave us the responsibility and we fulfilled it
>> From being seen as among the fragile five, India is now the land of reform, perform and transform. We are poised for record economic growth
07:53
ANI’s Smita Prakash makes this interesting observation.
When PM Modi saluted after unfurling the national flag, he used the Navy salute to honour the Tricolour.
07:42 Modi unfurls national flag, honours women in I-Day speech: On the occasion of Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi as tradition, addresses the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort.
He begins his address with the mention of women.
>> The country is touching new heights with more vigour and enthusiasm
>> Our daughters have crossed all seven seas and have coloured the world in tricolour
>> But on this Indpendence Day, I would salute the children of tribals who unfurled the national flag on Mount Everest and made India proud
>> India has registered its name as one of the largest global power. And after such an achievement, we are celebrating the Independence Day today. I pay tribute to all the great men of India, who fought for the country. I salute Army personnel and other forces who sacrifice their lives to protect India’s national flag
07:36 Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at Red Fort in Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day.
07:33
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Red Fort, to address the nation shortly.
Photograph: ANI/Twitter
07:33 In Independence Day speech, PM Modi may launch health scheme:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to announce the pilot projects of Ayushman Bharat in select district hospitals on the occasion of Independence Day on Wednesday.
The full roll-out of the scheme is expected to be announced from September 25 onwards.
Ayushman Bharat, also refered to as ‘Modicare’, is the national healthcare policy launched by the government of India in February this year.
The ambitious healthcare policy promises to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country and a beneficiary covered under the scheme will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country.
The scheme is entitlement based, with the entitlement decided on the basis of deprivation criteria in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census database. The beneficiaries can avail the facilities in both public as well as empanelled private healthcare centres.
— ANI
Source: Rediff