PM Narendra Modi's speech on 73rd Independence Day: Congress slammed over Article 370
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Thursday on its 73rd Independence Day, saying that within 10 weeks of his government assuming the second term, they have taken major steps of ending special status to Jammu and Kashmir and passing legislation banning instant Triple Talaq.
"Those who back Article 370, the nation asks them, if it was so essential and life-changing, if you had conviction, then for 70 years, why did it remain temporary, why did they not use their large mandates to make it permanent," PM Modi said, apparently targeting the Congress.
Hoisting Indian flag at the red fort of India, he did not shy away from denouncing the political opposition to Article 370.
"Abrogating Article 370 is an important step in fulfilling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's dream for a united India," he said.
"We don't let problems like Article 370 fester. It is not the time to stall things. It is the time for action. What did not happen in 70 years, the new government did in 70 days."
Pointing out that the move was passed in parliament by a two-third majority, he said: "This means that it was on everyone's mind but no one wanted to take the initiative."
This was his sixth straight Independence Day speech and the first after he won a massive victory in the national election earlier this year.
"Many thought in 2014, will changing a government really bring the change I want to see in my country? We worked extremely hard in between 2014 and 2019, thinking only of our nation and our countrymen and worked tirelessly for them... And in 2019 we saw that there was belief, that people gave a mandate because they believed their country could change for the better," the Prime Minister said on his re-election.
PM Modi said his government would focus on a "Jal Jeevan mission" to ensure water for all. "It is unfortunate, however, that so many people lack access to water even 70 years after Independence," he said.
Ahead of his speech, he tweeted, "Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Indians. Jai Hind!"
