PM sets tone for 2024, Oppn dubs it farewell

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: Setting the tone for his 2024 re-election bid, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for waging a war against the "three evils" of corruption, appeasement and dynastic politics, stepped up the OBC outreach with a mega scheme and exuded confidence he would return to address the nation from the Red Fort next year.

While his loyalists described it as a pre-election speech, critics dubbed it a 'farewell speech' despite his assertion to the contrary, while expressing doubts if he would return to power in 2024.

Modi, in his last Independence Day address before the Lok Sabha polls, also spoke of a resurgent India.

The next five years are a period of unprecedented development and will prove to be a golden period in realising the dream of a developed India by 2047, he said assuring people of "Modi ki guarantee" that the country will become the third largest economy in five years.

In a major outreach to members of Other Backward Caste (OBC) communities ahead of the string of state assembly elections and the Lok Sabha polls, Modi announced a mega scheme, Vishwakarma Yojana, with an outlay of Rs 13,000 to Rs 15,000 crore, to boost livelihood opportunities for people engaged in traditional skills, including carpenters, masons and goldsmiths.

With retail inflation soaring to 7.44 per cent, Modi also asserted that his government will be taking more measures to tackle price hike.

Touching upon the volatile situation in Manipur, he said the situation was improving and asserted that solution to its problems can be found only through peace.

"The nation is with Manipur," he said at the outset of his 90-minute address.

"On the next August 15, I will speak to you from Red Fort with more self-confidence about the country's achievements, the successes of your capabilities and the progress made in fulfilling your resolutions," he said.

Kharge: Modi will again unfurl flag, but at his house

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking out of his "arrogance" by claiming that he will unfurl the national flag at Red Fort next year too, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday, asserting he would do so but at his residence.

Kharge also hit out at the prime minister for criticising the opposition in his Independence Day address.

"What he is saying is talk of arrogance. Now it is 2023 and to say that he will again unfurl the national flag in 2024 (at the Red Fort) is speaking out of 'durankaar, ahankaar' (arrogance)," the Congress chief told reporters when asked about the prime minister's remarks.

"He (PM) also keeps on criticising the opposition and if he keeps doing so even on Independence Day, then what kind of India will he make," he said.

"He (the PM) will again unfurl the flag, but at his own house," Kharge said.

The Congress president had skipped the Independence Day function at the Red Fort. Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said, "It is the power of the people to decide who will deliver the speech at Red Fort next year. We should leave it to them."

CJI reminds judges to act against arbitrary arrests

In his speech on Independence Day, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud referred to demolitions and arbitrary arrests while speaking on the role of the Supreme Court in today's India.

Chandrachud's reference comes at a time when demolition of properties of accused has become a trend across states, mainly those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the arrest and detention of government critics have also come under criticism.

CJI Chandrachud also said the Judiciary faces a challenge is removing barriers from access to justice and that there is a roadmap in place.