Modi vows to crush nation’s detractors
PM BREAKS WITH TRADITION IN SPECIAL RED FORT CEREMONY
■
In a lengthy speech invoking valour and recalling the contribution of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) in the freedom movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday his government was committed to taking “big and bold” decisions and that the Indian Army was being modernised as per Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s vision.
Modi made the remarks while speaking at the Red Fort, where in a departure from protocol, he hoisted the national flag to mark the commemoration of the 75 years of the establishment of the Azad Hind Sarkar, the government of “free India”.
The Azad Hind government was raised by Bose during the freedom movement.
Modi said that “even after 70 years of Independence, Netaji’s dreams have not been fulfilled”. He acknowledged that India has “marched several steps ahead” in the years since independence but maintained that it was yet to reach new heights of glory.
Modi said the NDA government was committed to “achieve this goal” by going ahead with the vision of a new India “at a time when destructive forces are attacking us”.
This vision of new India, Modi stressed, is in line with what Bose had imagined.
‘English perspective’
The prime minister also accused the previous governments of looking at the country with an “English perspective”.
“Our government is changing this,” he said, insisting that the country’s sovereignty was an important aspect of Bose’s vision.
Modi recalled Bose’s words: “With the power of weapons and sacrifice of blood, you have to achieve freedom and then when the country will be free, you will have to make ■ a steady army for the nation, whose work will be to protect our freedom”.
“Today I can say India is moving towards the creation of an army that was envisioned by Netaji. Josh, Junoon aur Jazba, these have been parts of our army for long but now technique and modern weapons and equipment are also being combined with them.”
Modi stressed that India has “never been greedy” for somebody else’s land.
“This has been our history. But whosoever poses a threat to Indian sovereignty will be answered with double strength.”