New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 79th Independence Day address from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, delivered a record-breaking 103-minute speech on Friday, touching upon themes ranging from the dark memories of the Emergency to the nation’s growing strength in defence, space technology, and women empowerment.
Recalling the Emergency of 1975, PM Modi described it as an assault on India’s Constitution and democracy, calling it a time when “the Constitution’s throat was throttled and the nation was turned into a prison.” He urged citizens to remember those responsible for this “sin” and to strengthen their commitment to constitutional values.
On national security, Modi lauded the success of Operation Sindoor, highlighting how “Made in India” weapons showcased their devastating capability, dealing heavy damage to terrorist infrastructure across the border. He said this operation reflected both the determination of the armed forces and the technological self-reliance of the nation.
In a first, the Prime Minister also extended congratulations to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on its centenary year, acknowledging its contributions to nation-building. “This organisation’s 100 years of service to the nation is a matter of pride,” he said.
Discussing India’s ambitions in the space sector, Modi announced that the country is working towards self-reliance, planning to establish its own space station and launch the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. He underlined the role of hundreds of Indian space startups in this endeavour.
Women empowerment formed another core theme of the speech. Modi hailed women as not just beneficiaries of economic growth but key drivers of national progress. From startups to defence, and sports to space, he said, “India’s daughters are making the tricolour proud.” He highlighted that 10 crore women are part of self-help groups, with a target to create two crore “Lakhpati Didis.”
PM Modi also voiced deep concern over crimes against women, calling for stricter measures to ensure their safety and dignity.
With this year’s speech being his 12th consecutive Independence Day address, Modi has now delivered the second-highest number of such speeches from the Red Fort, after Jawaharlal Nehru. His 103-minute address also became the longest ever by an Indian Prime Minister on Independence Day.
