NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India had faced a series of crises over the past 10-12 years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and wars in Ukraine and West Asia, but maintained that a citizen-first approach helped the country navigate the challenges.Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day, Modi said the country emerged from the pandemic only to confront a tense global environment.“In the last 10-12 years, we have faced many dangers. As soon as we emerged from Covid, there was news of wars that started to arise from Ukraine side and West Asia. An atmosphere of tension prevailed. God knows what all the predictions the predictors made!,” he said.PM Modi also accused some people of deliberately creating anxiety by spreading rumours about shortages of essential supplies during the pandemic.“Some people gain joy in keeping the nation terrified by spreading rumours that vaccines will not be available, petrol, diesel, and fertiliser will not be available in the country. Some people were gaining joy from creating an atmosphere of anxiousness in the country,” he said.He added, “Some people took delight in trying to terrify the people of India and plunge them into worry. Yet, the nation has witnessed how the well-conceived plans of the last 10-12 years are bearing fruit.”The Prime Minister said the government’s response to the pandemic was guided by the principle of “Nagrik Devo Bhava”, under which citizens remained the priority.Turning to development, Modi cited the expansion of piped gas infrastructure as an example of the changes achieved over the past 12 years.“12 years ago, piped gas lines were available in only 70 cities. In the last 12 years, this number has grown to 700 cities. Today, 1.75 crore households are connected to piped gas lines in the country,” he said.Modi also said India had made progress in eliminating Naxalism, while remembering security personnel killed in operations against the insurgency. He said more than 3,500 security personnel had been killed “in order to protect the people”.
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Further, in his 75-minutes speech from the Red Fort, the Prime Minister urged political parties to advance women’s representation in legislatures, calling for 33 per cent representation for women in state assemblies and the Lok Sabha.“Come forward and celebrate the strength and capability of our women,” Modi said, urging parties to “as swiftly as possible” ensure greater representation.He also expressed solidarity with families affected by recent floods and landslides, saying, “We, and the entire nation, stand with them.”
