New Delhi: On the occasion of India's 73rd Independence Day, President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the nation on Wednesday evening with a message of spreading peace, harmony and goodwill. Kovind started his Independence Day speech with reminding the fellow countrymen to continuing the path of nation building. Further in his speech, the President also said that Independence Day is the day when we feel love for our nation deeply and also asked people to remember those who lost their lives to gain Independence for India. "It is our responsibility of the citizens of the country to work towards the growth and progress of the country," he said.

President Kovind also remembered Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi during his speech and said he guided us. "He had predicted the challenges we would face today." He also thanked the voters of India who participated in the 17 General Elections which took place earlier this year. "I congratulate all the voters who participated in the 17th General Elections and contributed in the conclusion of one of the largest democratic process in the world," he said.

Further speaking on the much hotbed issue of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kahsmir and bifurcation of the state in two Union Territories, Kovind said, "“I am confident that the changes made by govt in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would be beneficial for those regions. It will allow people to enjoy the same rights, privileges and facilities as their fellow citizens in the rest of the country."


"In my tenure as the President of India, I got the opportunity to travel in different parts of the country. I positively feel that the people of India might have different practices, but we have the same dreams. Today our dream is that the development should be the priority and it should be fast. The government will play its role in fulfilling these dreams of the nation," Kovind said.


"This year we complete 72 yrs as a free nation. In few weeks from now, on 2 Oct, we will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi. This year also marks the 550th birth anniversary of  Guru Nanak Dev ji," President added further.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to address the countrymen in his sixth straight Independence Day speech on Thursday. A number of issues ranging from the landmark Kashmir decision to the state of Indian economy, are expected to be dealt by the Prime Minister from the ramparts of Red Fort. This will also be the Prime Minister’s first Independence Day address after coming to power again after the Lok Sabha elections.

A multi-layered security arrangement, involving SWAT commandos and NSG snipers, is being put in place for the national capital in view of the Centre scrapping the constitutional provisions that gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status and tensions with Pakistan. Army, paramilitary forces and 20,000 Delhi Police personnel have also been deployed.

Around 500 CCTV cameras have been installed around the venue, where ministers, bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people will gather to hear the prime minister. The roads leading to the Red Fort are under surveillance and police personnel are taking help of trained sniffer dogs to check vehicles in north and central districts of Delhi.