Prime Minister Modi rallies nation to end corruption, strengthen unity and democracy

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India’s Prime Minister delivered a rallying speech to the nation from historic Red Fort August 15, 2022, urging citizens to grasp this moment and pledge to make the ‘Amrit Kaal” or next 25 years the most glorious for the country; do away with remnants of servitude, take pride in the culture, strengthen unity and most of all, recognize the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.

While speaking of being proud of India’s achievements, Modi did not shy from criticizing problems he considers systemic, such as corruption – Bhrashtachaar, and Bhai Bhatija-vaar, – nepotism, which he said were eating away at the vitals of good governance.

He emphasized the importance of respecting women, condemning those who did not do so, and described the empowerment of women as the main pillar for the future of India, one that would optimize its achievements manifold. Women were getting empowered in every field, from panchayats and local governance, to IT, sports, and in the armed forces. “That’s why, beyond all the other calculations one may make, the more opportunities we provide to our daughter, they will return in great measure. If our women shakti is joined, all future achievements will be multiplied.”

He touched on aspects reiterated many times in the past such as the diversity of India being its strength, and India being the ‘Mother of Democracy’ and claiming that the world is seeing India change and the aspirational society that wants positive change and wants it quickly. Modi traced the arc of history saying, “Remember the time before independence … yes, people had different methods of working, but the goal was the same and the goal was big — freedom of India’,” he said. “In this Amrit Kaal, we have to come together and work toward another big goal of a Vikshit Bharat,” – a strong, independent, confident and determined nation, he asserted.

“The diversity of India is our strength. Being the ‘Mother of Democracy’ gives India the inherent power to scale newer heights,” Modi said, adding, “The way the world is seeing India is changing. There is hope from India and the reason is the skills of 130 crore (1.3 billion) Indians.”

He dwelt at some length on the duties and responsibilities of citizens, saying all societies that have succeeded, have this quality in their citizenry. “While the state must supply electricity 24 hours, the citizen must not waste any; while the state must provide water … every drop must be used wisely,” the Prime Minister exhorted.

“No one is exempt from the duties of a citizen,” he said, not just in helping the state deliver, but also in making India atmanirbhar, self-reliant, in every field, ranging from the energy sector, to toy manufacturing, and space exploration.

He saluted the armed forces for their bravery, and in the same breath praised children for wanting to buy Made in India goods. He pointed to increasing interest from foreign investors in India as a hub for manufacturing, saying he wants to encourage the private sector.

Recalling late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s dictum – Jai Javan, Jai Kisan (Long live the soldier, long live the farmer), and the addition of ‘Jai Vigyan’ (long live knowledge) by late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi added ‘Jai Anusandhan’ (Long live innovation).

“I have faith in our innovators,” he said and emphasized the need for digitalizing the whole economy from the villages to the cities. “A new world is being created through digitalization,” he said, predicting it would be the decade in which India would be ready for this transformation.

While praising the federal structure of government in the country, Modi called on state governments proceed from one vision – what is good for India. “The need of the day is ‘cooperative federalism’,” Modi said, at the same time calling on the states to compete with each other in trying to achieve more.

Modi said he knows the country faces many challenges in the next 25 years, and he is not minimizing them. But two things are critical no matter which field of endeavor it may be – “and if we don’t deal with them, they will overwhelm us.”

Bhrashtachaar and Bhai Bhatijavaar, he said had to be defeated.

In a country where the poor are suffering, they see on one side, people with nothing, and on the other, those who have no place to hide their wealth, Modi said. Those who have ‘looted’ the country, must return the corrupt monies they made.

“My pledge is to do away with it, and I need your cooperation to defeat it,” Modi appealed.

Bhai Bhatijavaar has infused every institution in the country, Modi said. So the nation’s talent suffers, he contended. “We need to create awareness and late against (nepotism) Bhai Bhatijavaar.”

He appealed to youth to join him in getting rid of the two ills of corruption and nepotism.

“It’s true we have a lot of challenges,” Modi acknowledged. “But if there are crores of problems, there are crores of solutions, and I have faith in my 1.3 billion people,” he said. “In the coming 25 years, every single day must be spent for the good of the Motherland,” Modi said.

In his concluding remarks, Modi declared the start of ‘Amrit Kaal’ which he said demands the unity of all, and a ‘Team India’ which must move forward as a team. The crowd joined him in repeating the slogans – Jai Hind, Bharat Mata ki Jai, and Vande Mataram.

The crowd then joined a choir to sing India’s national anthem.