Modi likely to skip China, Pak in speech

Red Fort address might focus on agriculture, sops

In his last Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to skip any reference to India’s bilateral relations with its two key neighbours — China and Pakistan. Instead he may speak in detail about the NDA Government’s various initiatives in the agriculture sector and could even announce sops for Central government employees.

An interesting highlight of Mr Modi’s final speech of his tenure as Prime Minister is that it would be live streamed on the Internet and social media platforms, sources told this newspaper.

According to highly placed sources, Mr Modi in his address to the nation on Wednesday from the ramparts of the Red Fort, may avoid any mention of New Delhi’s bilateral relations vis-àvis Islamabad, as a new government is all set to take charge in that country in a few days time. Therefore considering the fact that Pakistan is going through a crucial democratic process, the Prime Minister may avoid touching upon Pakistan in his August 15 speech.

With Sino-Indian ties undergoing a tough phase, mainly after last year’s Doklam stand-off, top sources informed that the Prime Minister may also not refer to China during his address.

Sources pointed out that India is adopting a wait and watch approach regarding Pakistan as former cricketer Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf party is all set to form a democratically elected government there. Mr Khan’s party had managed to achieve a simple majority in the senate during the recently concluded general elections.

Mr Modi may talk at length about the NDA government’s various initiatives in the agriculture sector. The much touted measures to double farmers’ income by 2022 are likely to be touched upon in detail by the Prime Minister in his speech, sources said. Also there is a likelihood that he may announce sops for Central government employees.