Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his seventh straight Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Saturday — an address that comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, a border standoff with China and a slew of reforms by the government under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. All eyes will be on what the prime minister says as his August 15 addresses have often been marked by big announcements, his government’s achievements and bringing to people’s attention what he believes to be the major challenges facing the country.
Fresh from his re-election with a thumping mandate, Modi, in his I- Day speech last year, had highlighted his government’s move to bring in the law against triple talaq and to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.He had also underlined the need for population control and the country’s vision to achieve a USD 5 trillion economy.The government’s efforts to deal with COVID-19 are likely to be in focus when Modi addresses the nation on its 74th Independence Day.
