Speaking from the historic Red Fort on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on the numerous challenges India has confronted over the past decade, including the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, global conflicts, and widespread anxieties about critical resource shortages. He asserted that the nation successfully navigated these turbulent periods through proactive planning and meticulous preparation. The Prime Minister specifically highlighted the unprecedented uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, which severely strained global systems. He further noted that as the world began to recover from Covid-19, new geopolitical tensions emerged with conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, presenting additional obstacles for India to overcome.
Modi also strongly condemned those who he claimed deliberately propagated alarming predictions and fueled rumors during times of national crisis. He remarked that certain individuals appeared to revel in instilling fear and anxiety among Indians. However, the Prime Minister emphasized that India’s resilient response to these crises underscored the efficacy of the strategic preparations and policies implemented over the preceding 10 to 12 years, significantly bolstering the country’s capacity to manage major disruptions. He stated that the well-conceived plans from the past decade are now yielding tangible results.
During the pandemic, the government’s operational philosophy was deeply rooted in the principle of “Nagrik Devo Bhava,” which translates to “the citizen is supreme.” This approach prioritized the welfare of every citizen above all else. Modi explained that the comprehensive preparations and sequential steps taken by India, though not specifically anticipating such a monumental crisis, proved invaluable when the pandemic struck. He proudly pointed to the current abundance of essential commodities, proclaiming that “the country has gas, petrol and urea.” The Prime Minister reiterated India’s growing reliance on its inherent strengths, declaring, “We are standing on our own strength.”
In a forward-looking statement, Modi introduced the concept of ‘Sapta Dhara’ of strength, drawing an analogy to the ancient ‘Sapta Sindhu’ (seven rivers) that historically symbolized India’s prowess. He asserted that a new surge of strength is essential for India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation, or ‘Viksit Bharat’. He confidently expressed that through the power and dynamism of this ‘Sapta Dhara’, India will achieve unprecedented heights and accelerate its progress in the next five to seven years, surpassing what could not be accomplished in the past five to seven decades.
