WHAT NARENDRA MODI SAID ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

2014

I am here not as pradhan mantri (Prime Minister) but as pradhan sevak (prime servant in service of the country).

This country has not been made by politicians, kings or governments. It has been made by farmers, labourers, youth, our mothers and sisters. Our country has progressed because of the hard work of all these people.

With an insider’s view, I found that there are many governments within a government. One department was fighting with another department. How can we work for the country if we fight amongst ourselves? I have tried to break the walls. I want the government to be an organic unity and not an assembled entity. 2015

There is no allegation of corruption of even a single rupee in our 15-month government. The country can be freed of corruption. We must start from the top. Corruption is like a termite. You have to inject medicine on every square metre to treat it... Various initiatives of the government have helped in the elimination of middlemen. Last year, the CBI had registered 1,800 cases of corruption, as against 800 in the year before that.

We took a lot of steps within such a short time — we formed an SIT under SC’s guidance the day we took over… We have reached agreements with many nations who can provide us information about black money. 2016

Unity in diversity is our greatest strength. Our cultural tradition of respect for others and assimilation is the reason why our civilisation has persisted.

We want to change the situation where people are scared of income tax authorities, particularly among middle-class families.

Two crore people apply for passports in the country. Even poor people get passport in one or two weeks.