Independence Day 2022: In his Indepenedence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that respecting women is an important pillar for India's growth, and said, "we need to support our 'Nari Shakti'."
With pain echoing through his voice, PM Modi urged the nation to "stop disrespecting women."
PM Modi remarked that women suffer numerous obstacles in India and that Indians must resolve to eliminate any attitude or conduct that disrespects women.
"It's important that in speech & conduct, we do nothing that lowers the dignity of women," PM Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India's unity resides in its diversity. "We must ensure gender equality to ensure this unity... if daughters and sons are not treated equally, there won't be unity," he added.
Highlighting the strength of women in India's freedom struggle, PM Modi said, "Every Indian is filled with pride when they remember the strength of the women of India- be it Rani Laxmibai, Jhalkari Bai, Chennamma, Begun Hazrat Mahal."
As for the political context, the PM’s reference to woman power comes as recently the Congress Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called President Droupadi Murmu as "rashtrapatni" which created a ruckus in both Houses of the Parliament.
Chowdhury's comment sparked outrage in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with Minister of Minority Affairs Smriti Irani and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leading the charge. Irani and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi had a furious conversation, which has sparked its own controversy.
Speaking about Aatmnirbhar Bharat, PM Modi stated: "I salute children who are saying no to imported toys; when a 5-year-old says 'no videshi', 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' runs through his veins."