Independence Day 2018: "Will work to liberate Muslim 'daughters' from Triple Talaq evils", says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered an 82-minute-long speech in his fifth Independence Day address from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures while delivering his speech as part of India's 72nd Independence Day celebrations, which marks the 71st anniversary of the end of British colonial rule, at the Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15, 2018. India will send a manned mission into space by 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced August 15 in a speech to the nation for the country's Independence Day. / AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH

New Delhi: In his fifth Independence day address from the ramparts of Red Fort, PM Modi summed up the developmental works done in the four years of his governance, apart from sharing his vision of a developed India. He projected himself as an impatient agent of change against the ‘slow-paced previous government’ and promised basic facilities of housing, power, water sanitation and healthcare for all, in his mission to take country to new heights. On the Indo-Pak border, Pakistan Rangers and BSF exchange sweets. India and Bangladesh also exchanged sweets at the Indo-Bangladesh border. Here are the latest updates:

• 11:38 am:President Ram Nath Kovind pays tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi

Image: ANI

• 11: 14 am: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unfurls the tricolour at Chhatrasal Stadium

Image: ANI

• 10: 21 am: Pakistan Rangers and BSF exchange sweets at Attari- Wagah border.

Image: ANI

• 10:03 am : Congress President Rahul Gandhi unfurls the tricolour at Party headquarters in Delhi.

Image: ANI

• 9:44 am: Exchange of sweets between India and Bangladesh at the Indo-Bangladesh border at BOP Fulbari

Image: ANI

• 9:30 am: BJP President Amit Shah unfurls the national flag at Party headquarters in Delhi.

Image: ANI

• 9:00 am: PM Modi meets children gathered at Red Fort before leaving. Excited children tried holding his hands.

AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH

• 8:52 am: PM concludes his fifth Independence Day speech

Image: ANI

• • 8:45 am: 

#जश्नएआजादी LIVE: "I'm impatient to make my nation touch peaks higher than developed nations" says PM @narendramodi https://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/2x9oY3IHc3

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 15, 2018

• 8:40 am: Prime Minister raises concern over the injustice suffered by Muslim women due to Triple Talaq practices. He says: 'The practice of Triple Talaq has caused great injustice among our Muslim ‘daughters’.' He further says that he will work to ensure the elimination of this practice. "We are trying to end this practice but there are some people who are not wanting it to end.  I ensure the Muslim women that I will work to ensure that justice is done to them."

#जश्नएआजादी LIVE: PM @narendramodi assures Muslim woman over #TripleTalaq issue, says "Will not let you down, will fulfill your desires" https://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/LjM6hpDl9V

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 15, 2018

• 8: 32 am: 

LIVE: We have busted 6 Crore fake beneficiaries of Government subsidy & saved ₹ 90,000 Crorehttps://t.co/DklVA2kRqn

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 15, 2018

• 8:27 am: PM says that government will launch Jan Aarogya Abhiyan on September 25 across the country to provide healthcare to 50 crore people

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan will be launched on 25th September this year. It is high time we ensure that the poor of India get proper access to good quality and affordable healthcare: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/TDIc5qwnsx

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2018

• 8:20 am: With a 'Beej Se Bazar Tak' approach, we are bringing remarkable changes in the agriculture sector. The aim is to double farmer incomes by 2022, says PM Modi.

 

• 8:17 am: " Indian astronaut, be it son or daughter, will go into space in Gaganyaan by the year 2022" promises PM Modi

India is proud of our scientists, who are excelling in their research and are at the forefront of innovation. In the year 2022 or if possible before, India will unfurl the tricolour in space: PM Narendra Modi #IndiaIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/MwvBXmUY8x

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2018

• 8:09 am: "World earlier viewed India for policy paralysis, delayed reforms, now it sees it as a multi-trillion dollar investment destination. India's voice is being heard effectively at the world stage. We are integral parts of forums whose doors were earlier closed for us", asserts Prime Minister in his fifth Independence Day address.

• 8:02 am: "While decisions were held back in the past due political and other compulsions, bold decisions like GST are being taken now", says PM.
• The OROP (One Rank One Pension) demand was pending for decades. The people of India, our brave army personnel had faith in us and we were able to take a decision on OROP. We will always take decisions in the interests of our nation: PM

#जश्नएआजादी LIVE| The #OROP demand was also pending for decades. People of India, our brave Army personnel had faith in us and we were able to take a decision on OROP. We will always take decisions in the interests of our nation: PM Narendra Modihttps://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/1j2O2fOosN

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 15, 2018

• 7:51 am: "We are proud of what we have achieved and at the same time, we also have to look at where we have come from. That is when we will realise the remarkable strides the nation has made" says PM. "If we had continued at the same pace at which toilets were being constructed in 2013, the pace at which electrification was happening in 2013, then it would have taken us decades to complete." he says.

#जश्नएआजादी LIVE: "If we had continued at the same pace at which toilets were being constructed in 2013, the pace at which electrification was happening in 2013, then it would have taken us decades to complete" says PM Modihttps://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/MdZKrbT8Ml

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 15, 2018

• 7:50 am: PM Modi asserts that in the past four years country has progressed by leaps and bounds. "It would take centuries for development of villages , had we moved on at the pace of the year 2013" he says.

• 7: 45 am: "The Constitution of India, given to us by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has spoken about justice for all. We have to ensure social justice for all and create an India that is progressing rapidly", says PM

• 7:42 am: "Many parts of the nation witnessed a good monsoon but at the same time parts of India have been affected by flooding. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives due to floods in various parts of India": PM Modi

 

• 7:33 am: PM begins his fifth independence day address

#जश्नएआजादी LIVE: PM @narendramodi begins his #IndependenceDayIndia speech at Red Forthttps://t.co/DklVA2kRqn

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 15, 2018

• 7:30 am: Tricolour unfurled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Red Fort

LIVE: #जश्नएआजादी | PM Modi hoists National Flag at Red Fort on #IndependenceDayIndia, to begin speech shortly https://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/jsKpS0Irl7

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) August 15, 2018

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at #RedFort in Delhi. #IndiaIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/AKdUgwPEm2

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2018

• Prime Minister reaches Red Fort

 

• Donning a white Kurta and saffron Turban, Prime Minister Modi, reaches Rajghat to pay homage to Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi.

 

• Former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh, HD Deve Gowda, Union Minister JP Nadda and BJP leader LK Advani reach Red Fort

Former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh & HD Deve Gowda, Union Minister JP Nadda & BJP leader LK Advani at the Red Fort. #IndependenceDayIndia pic.twitter.com/HRYgZlEkNJ

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2018

• Here is the schedule of the Prime Minister today:

7:08 am: Prime Minister Modi will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

7:15 am: PM will reach the Red Fort where he will be given Guard of Honour

7:30 am: the National Flag will be hoisted and at 7:33 he will address the nation.

 

• PM Modi extends greetings to people on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day

Independence Day greetings to the people of India. Jai Hind! #IndependenceDayIndia

स्वतंत्रता दिवस के शुभ अवसर पर सभी देशवासियों को शुभकामनाएं! जय हिंद! — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2018

• Union Minister Rajnath Singh hoisted the Tricolour at his residence and  distributed sweets among security personnel.

Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh gives sweets to security personnel at his residence on #IndependenceDayIndia pic.twitter.com/kFrDvfcWIA

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2018

The country is all decked up on the occasion. Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan and several government buildings were illuminated, on the eve of Independence Day.  North and South Block were also illuminated.  Transport Bhawan, RBI Building, Krishi Bhawan and Shastri Bhawan were also decked up to mark  Independence Day. Illumination of important buildings on the occasion of Independence Day is an old tradition.