From the ramparts of Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Indian economy as the most preferred investment destination in the world
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Emotionalcremation ritesof Hindu guru His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj
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IANS, NEW DELHI
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2016
I THE PATH INDIA LEADS n his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Indian economy as the most preferred investment destination in the world and promised to bring inflation down to the targeted four per cent. Every major global agency has ranked India as the best investment destination as the country’s economy has continued to grow well despite the global gloom, Modi said in his August 15 address to the nation from the Red Fort here. “Be it the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank or the World Economic Forum, they have all declared India to be the best destination for global capital.” On inflation, Modi said, “The government is working with the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) to bring it in the range of four per cent, plus-minus two percentage points.” While the previous government had allowed inflation to cross the 10 per cent mark, his government has been able to push it back under six per cent despite two consecutive drought years, Modi said. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime that is being called the most radical reform in independent India’s indirect tax system will bring significant benefits to the economy, Modi said and thanked all political parties for supporting the legislation. “GST is also one such tax reform that will help us bring financial sta-
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www.hiindiaLive.com Narendra Modi addressing the nation on the 70th Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort, in Delhi. (Photo: IANS)
bility,” he said. “One nation, one grid and one price is what we have worked on.” Modi listed areas where he said India has made significant progress in the past couple of years, notably financial inclusion through Aadhaar, expanding energy services to the needy, and faster delivery of public services like the issuance of a passport. The task of financial inclusion
was impossible as many people were locked out of the mainstream institutions, he said. “But the impossible task was made possible by adding 21 crore people in the Jan Dhan Yojana,” he said. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana helps the poor to open bank accounts. Modi said the government was trying to link all government
schemes with Aadhaar to avoid leakage of benefits. “We have connected 70 crore Indians to Aadhaar and social security schemes,” he said in his address. Similarly, while it took six to eight months to get a passport, it just takes a couple of weeks now even though about two crore people apply for it annually compared with about 20,000 earlier, he said.
President attacks intolerance, divisive agenda IANS, NEW DELHI
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resident Pranab Mukherjee denounced “forces of divisiveness and intolerance” as well as attacks on weaker sections and said that they needed to be dealt with firmly. In his fifth Independence Day eve address to the nation, the President also attacked groups and individuals who he said pursued a divisive political agenda that leads to Constitutional subversion. Without making any specific reference to communal forces or the recent cow vigilantes, Mukherjee said that in the last four years he saw “with some disquiet forces of divi-
President Pranab Mukherjee addressing the nation. (Photo: IANS)
siveness and intolerance trying to raise their ugly head. “Attacks on weaker sections that militate against our national ethos
are aberrations that need to be dealt with firmly.” But, he said, “the collective wisdom of our society and polity gives me the confidence that such forces will remain marginalized”. India will celebrate its 70th Independence Day on Monday. The President pointed out that the Indian constitution was more than a political or legal document and rather an “emotional, cultural and social contract”. And he quoted former President S. Radhakrishnan as saying: “In an effective democracy, its members should be willing to accept law and lawful authority. No man, no group can be his or its own law giver.” Democracy, Mukherjee
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MOHD ASIM KHAN, NEW DELHI
From the ramparts of Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Indian economy as the most preferred investment destination in the world... I-DAY SPECIAL REPORT INSIDE PAGES
MIDWEST EDITION | EAST COAST EDITION | Volume 6 • Issue No. 372 August 19, 2016 | THE COMMUNITY FIRST
Patriotic fervor at Red Fort
underlined, was not just about elections. “Disruptions, obstructionism and unmindful pursuit of a divisive political agenda by groups and individuals lead to nothing but institutional travesty and constitutional subversion,” he said. “Polarizing debates only deepen the fault lines in public discourse.” Recalling that at the time of Independence, doubts were expressed if India will survive as a democracy, the President said that seven decades later, Indians with all their diversity had proved the critics wrong. Mukherjee denounced a rise in terrorism across the globe, with its roots in radicalization of people on the basis of religion.
thousand hearts beating with pride, thousands of feet tapping to patriotic tunes — the sea of humanity in front of Delhi’s historic Red Fort was throbbing with patriotic fervour as the nation celebrated its 70th Independence Day. The crowd erupted with a joyous roar and school children stood on their toes to catch a glimpse as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cavalcade arrived at the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort around half past seven amid a fanfare. Clad in a white half-sleeved kurta and skin tight pyjama, complimented with a pink-yellowmaroon turban, Modi looked dapper as he strode to inspect the guard of honor. He was received by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, junior Defence Minister Subhash Bhamre and Defence Secretary G. Mohan Kumar. On the road in front of the fort, paramilitary troopers stood in alert while agile National Security Guard commandos added to the vigil. Since no vehicles — except for those with stickers issued by Defence Ministry — were allowed in a two km periphery of the venue for security reasons, the public had to walk a considerable distance to reach the Red Fort. But that did not diminish their enthusiasm. The crowd once again erupted as soon as Modi appeared on the ramparts, though it was muted as compared to the thunderous applause one witnessed two years ago, when Modi delivered his maiden Independence Day speech. As the Prime Minister unfurled the national flag from the ramparts, overlooking the historic Jain Mandir and Gurudwara Sisganj in the front and the Mughal era Jama Masjid on the left, the booming sound of the ceremonial 21-gun salute filled the air. As Modi finished his speech, school children and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets sang the national anthem.