Independence Day 2019: India Will Spend Rs 3.5 Lakh Crore On Jal Jeevan Mission, Says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a new defence post - Chief of Defence Staff - between the chiefs of the three armed forces (ground, navy and air force) and higher defence personnels, today.

This is in an effort to effectively lead the forces and bring about necessary reforms, he said.

Inviting global investors to pour money into the economy, Modi said that the government will support those with a plan to enhance employment in the country.

India’s fundamentals are strong, he said, claiming that the government has been successful in bringing inflation under control.

He also asked the citizens to change their negative outlook towards the business community as they create wealth and employment. “We should now view wealth creators with dread and inferiority complex. If wealth is not created, it cannot be distributed,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the need to develop India’s export sector over the coming years, starting now, as the government makes efforts towards reaching its goal of making India a $5 trillion economy by 2024.

All parts of India - including every district - has a product or service that it is recognized for. India should work towards exporting these products and services to the rest of the world, he said, adding that it will lead to rapid development and employment creation.

India has the potential to be the world’s largest tourism market bu the country has been unable to meet its potential int he sector, he said. He pointed out that tourism activity works as an economic multiplier which cuts across sectors and urged people to visit at least 15 tourist destination within India by 2022.

• The rot of corruption and nepotism is so deep and wide that an unending effort is required to beat it.
• The idea of free India is one where the government’s involvement in people’s lives recedes.
• While the government will be there to step in during difficult times, the citizens should have the social freedom and options to achieve their aspirations.
• Country can’t spend more time making incremental progress
• Need to move to advanced infrastructure to be considered at par with the world
• Need to make strides forward on clean energy, gas grids, e-mobility

Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched upon the need for the country to address its “population explosion”, adding that it leads to many difficulties. The state as well as the central government needs to come up with policies to address this, he said.

India has more than 130 crore citizens, behind only China in terms of population. Moreover, India is projected to overtake China as the world’s most populous country around 2027 and reach a population peak around 2060. China’s population is expected to fall by 375 million by 2100.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the spending allocated for the Jal Jeevan Mission – first spoken of during the July Budget Speech – in an effort to ensure that all houses have access to safe water, at Red Fort today. The centre will work with the state governments to mobilize drinking water t all parts of the country and communities, he said, adding that India will spend Rs 3.5 lakh crores on this mission in the coming years.

The initiative will make efforts on improving Irrigation, harvesting rainwater, treating sea water and waste water, while also looking at water conservation, he said.

We cannot leave our community in the grips of filth, illiteracy and disease, the prime minister said. Like his flagship ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’, the newly announced water mission will also need the citizen’s involvement, he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that while there may have been some short-term troubles caused by revoking Article 370, the nation can finally proclaim "One Nation – One Constitution” now.

The next conversation that the country needs to have is about "One Nation – One Election”, he said.

• Article 370 and Article 35(A) fuelled separatism, terrorism, dynastic rule, corruption
• Common citizen of J&K can now hold the Government Of India accountable
• Those critical of Article 370 removal lacked courage, intent to improve situation In J&K

Things that have never been done in 70 years - such as revoking Article 370 - have been done in 70 days of the Bharatiya Janata Party getting re-elected, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While other governments thought about it, maybe they were waiting for someone to start the process, he said. The Modi government has removed all obstacles standing in the way of Jammu and Kashmir’s development, he added.

• If 2014-19 was an era to fulfill people's needs, the time since 2019 is about meeting aspirations and dreams
• Peoples trust in us have given us new strength. The 2019 mandate shows that hopelessness has given way to hope among masses
• In the last five years, we tried to improve ease of living. We will work harder in the next five years

As PM Modi speaks about the developments in Jammu & Kashmir, the state is still partially under restriction with the lack of internet access for the 11th straight day disrupting everyday life.

• Many suffering due to natural calamities, centre, states & NDRF are working to help people
• Within 10 weeks, the government has taken steps to speed up development across all fields
• Country urgently needs more doctors, medical facilities; which require new laws, new approach

The removal of Article 370 and 35(A) is a big step in fulfilling the dreams of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort today.

Marking the his sixth Independence Day speech as Prime Minister - and the first of his second five-year term - Narendra Modi assured citizens that the Modi government is working constantly to fulfill their aspirations.

“Today I salute everyone who has contributed to the development, strength, safety and aspirations of India,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation for his customary Independence Day speech from the Red Fort in New Delhi.

This will be Modi’s sixth Independence Day address, and his first since coming to power with an unprecedented mandate.

Modi has used the annual event to announce his government's showpiece programmes like Swachh Bharat, Ayushman Bharat and India’s manned space mission. He has also used the opportunity to present a report card of his government.

He has often invoked India’s rich cultural and spiritual traditions to rally people’s support for some of his pet projects—from cleanliness to ending female foeticide.

Different themes have stood out in Modi's speeches on the occasion.

In 2014, he gave a call for Swachh Bharat and appealed for shunning communalism and casteism to focus on development. He made a strong pro-poor and pro-farmer and pro-youth pitch the next year.

In 2016, he created waves by mentioning Balochistan, a Pakistani region where Baloch nationalists have been fighting the government forces. He gave a call for embracing people of Kashmir in 2017.

Modi may also choose to address the recent events in Kashmir, where even on Independence Day, partial restrictions remain on the movement of people and communications.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s win in the recent general election followed by its success in getting Parliament’s nod to its contentious but core agenda of revoking Jammu & Kashmir’s special status under Article 370, has already set the tempo of his speech.

In his address to the nation last week, he had assured people of the Valley development and peace, as he sought to assuage concerns following his government's decision to scrap the state’s special status and splitting it into two Union territories.

The 40-minute speech was almost entirely focussed on the future of the region—making with a soft-toned pitch to the people to accept this decision and treat it as the beginning of a new era.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to speak at the 73rd Independence Day - his sixth straight Independence Day speech - and is expected to touch on a host of issues, ranging from his government's landmark decision on Jammu and Kashmir to the state of economy.

This will also be his first August 15 address after coming back to power with a huge mandate.

Modi has used the annual event to announce his government's showpiece programmes like 'Swachh Bharat', 'Ayushman Bharat' and India's first manned space mission, and also to present a report card on its performance to highlight how the country has grown on his watch.

Modi’s address comes at a time when India’s economy is struggling to break-free from a deep seated slowdown.

Sales of everything from cars to biscuits have fallen with GDP growth at a five-year low. And with last year’s IL&FS crisis, banks have turned cautious about lending. A weak economy has also pulled down factory output while imports have also started falling signalling that the slowdown is only getting worse.

It remains to be seen whether the Prime Minister will choose to assure India Inc. and address the economic problems in his speech.