If 40 cr can make India independent, 140 cr can make it a developed country: PM Modi

Aug. 15, 2024, 6:54 a.m.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi implored the nation to strive for the status of a developed country by 2047, drawing a parallel to the collective effort that led to India's independence.

The Prime Minister asserted that if 400 million Indians could achieve independence from colonial rule, then 1.4 billion Indians today possess the capability to overcome challenges and realize the vision of a developed India by 2047 through collective action.

“Slavery was a long struggle, it was a strategy to break Indians. Even then 40 crore Indians showed unity towards one dream of Independence, there was one quote “Vande Mataram”. Only 40 crore people broke the shackles of slavery. We have the same blood. Today we are 140 crore Indians. If 40 crores could get independence, then 140 crore Indians can tackle any challenge if we are united. We can achieve the target of “Viksit Bharat by 2047”. If 40 crore Indians could get independence, we we can have a developed India by 2047,” he said.

Advertisement #WATCH | During his #IndependenceDay2024 speech, PM Modi announces, "In the next five years, 75,000 new seats will be created in medical colleges in India. Viksit Bharat 2047 should also be 'Swasth Bharat' and for this, we have started Rashtriya Poshan Mission." pic.twitter.com/IvVLVYPGKK

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2024 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ are not mere words but they are reflection of resolve and dreams of 140 crore people. People’s suggestions for Viksit Bharat include governance reforms, speedy justice delivery system, promoting traditional medicines, PM said at Red Fort.

Individuals have proposed numerous ideas to propel India towards development by 2047, including transforming the nation into a manufacturing powerhouse and fostering seed capital, the PM remarked.

PM Modi delivered his longest Independence Day speech at 98 minutes as he addressed the country from the ramparts of historic Red Fort. The 78th Independence Day speech was also the longest by any prime minister in India’s history.

On the 78th Independence Day, Modi became the first Prime Minister to unfurl the Indian flag and deliver a speech for the third time.

Modi's inaugural Independence Day speech in 2014 lasted for 65 minutes.

His speech in 2015 lasted for about 88 minutes. This was Modi’s 11th address as PM and his first after taking charge for a third term.

In 2018, Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort for 83 minutes. Subsequently, in 2019, his speech lasted nearly 92 minutes, making it his second-longest address to date.

In 2020 Modi’s I-day address lasted for 90 minutes.

His Independence Day address in 2021 lasted 88 minutes, and in 2022, he spoke for approximately 74 minutes.

Last year, Modi’s speech was 90 minutes long.

Prior to Modi, Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 and IK Gujral in 1997 delivered the longest addresses, clocking in at 72 and 71 minutes respectively.

Nehru and Indira delivered concise speeches, clocking in at 14 minutes in 1954 and 1966, respectively.

Former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee also delivered some of the shortest Independence Day addresses from the Red Fort.

Singh’s speeches in 2012 and 2013 lasted only 32 and 35 minutes, respectively. Vajpayee’s speeches in 2002 and 2003 were even shorter at 25 and 30 minutes.

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