Independence Day 2024 Highlights: India celebrates 78th I-Day with great fervour

This live blog has ended.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the Olympics contingent at his residence on Thursday as India celebrated 78th Independence Day.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin participated in Independence Day celebrations at Fort St George in Chennai today.

Chief Justice of India hoisted the national flag on the Supreme Court premises. He said, “We chose in 1950, the uncertainty of freedom. What is happening today in Bangladesh, is a clear reminder of how precious liberty is for us… It’s very easy to take freedom and liberty for granted, but it is important that we dwell on the stories of the past to remind us how precious liberty is…”

Mamata Banerjee hoists tricolour on the occasion of 78th Independence Day in Kolkata.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal‘s wife Sunita Kejriwal tweets, “Today, the National Flag was not hoisted at the CM’s residence. It is very sad. This dictatorship can keep an elected Chief Minister in jail, but how can it contain the patriotism of the heart…”

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge hoisted the national flag at AICC Headquarters in Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wished the nation on the occasion of Independence Day. He took to X and said, “Happy Independence Day to all countrymen. For us, freedom is not just a word – it is our biggest protective shield, woven into constitutional and democratic values. This is the power of expression, the ability to speak the truth and the hope to fulfil dreams. Jai Hind.”

Clad in multi-coloured turban and crisp white kurta-pyjama with a light blue jacket, PM Modi delivered his 11th consecutive address from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He delivered a nearly two-hour-long address to the nation.

PM Modi said there is a need for a “secular civil code” in India. “It is need of hour to have a secular civil code and do away with discriminatory communal civil code. We have spent 75 years with it,” the prime minister said.

Shedding light on the unrest in India‘s neighbouring country Bangladesh, PM Modi said, “As a neighbouring country, I can understand the concern regarding whatever has happened in Bangladesh. I hope that the situation there gets normal at the earliest. The concerns of 140 crore countrymen to ensure the safety of Hindus and minorities there – India always wants our neighbouring countries to walk the path of prosperity and peace. We are committed to peace…In the days to come, we will continue to wish well for Bangladesh in its ‘Vikas Yatra’ because we think about the welfare of humankind.”

On Independence Day, PM Modi says, “We are moving forward with resolution but there are some people who cannot see progress or think of India‘s good unless it benefits them…The country needs to protect itself from this handful of pessimistic people…There are uncountable challenges both external and internal – these will only increase. I want to say to such forces that India’s development will not pose a threat to anyone….The world should not worry seeing India’s development…”

During his address, PM Modi said that frequent elections create obstacles in the country’s progress and added, “I request everyone to come together to resolve ‘one nation, one election‘.

Olympics medal winners for India were invited to be the guests at the Red Fort. Honouring them, PM Modi said, “Today, we also have with us the youth who made the Indian flag fly high in Olympics. On behalf of 140 crore countrymen, I congratulate all our athletes and players…In the next few days, a huge contingent of India will leave for Paris to participate in the Paralympics. I extend best wishes to all our Paralympians…India organising the G20 Summit on a large scale has proven that India has the capability to organise large-scale events…It is the dream of India to host the 2036 Olympics, we are making preparations for that…”

PM Narendra Modi says, “I would like to express my pain once again, from the Red Fort today. As a society, we will have to think seriously about the atrocities against women that are happening – there is outrage against this in the country. I can feel this outrage.”

“The country, society, state governments will have to take this seriously. Speedy investigation of crimes against women, those executing these monstrous deeds be awarded strict punishment at the earliest – this is important to instil confidence in society. I would also like to say that when rapes and incidents of atrocities on women occur, it is widely discussed. But when a person of such monstrous tendency is punished, it is not seen in news, but restricted to a corner. It is the need of the hour, that extensive discussion on those receiving punishment be held so that those committing this sin understand that this leads to hanging. I think it is very important to instil this fear,” PM Modi added.

PM Modi’s remarks came amid a nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.

PM Modi said, “We are becoming self-reliant in the defence sector. Today, we have our own identity in defence equipment manufacturing. India is emerging as a defence manufacturing hub.”

During his Independence Day 2024 speech, PM Modi announced, “In the next five years, 75,000 new seats will be created in medical colleges in India. Viksit Bharat 2047 should also be ‘Swasth Bharat’ and for this, we have started Rashtriya Poshan Mission.”

“Whether it’s tourism, MSMEs, education, health, transport, agriculture or any other sector, there is an advanced system. Bringing the world’s best practices forward, we want to lead. Every sector requires modernisation, advancement and connectivity with technologies. We are getting new support due to our policies in all sectors,” PM Modi said during his customary Independence Day address.

Speaking on the space sector and hailing the start-ups, PM Modi said, “The space sector is an important aspect. We have done many reforms in this sector. Today, many startups are entering this sector. Space sector which is becoming vibrant is an essential element towards making India a powerful nation. We are focusing and giving strength to this sector with a long-term idea.”

PM Modi said, “Youth of my country does not intend to walk slowly now. Youth of my country does not believe in incremental progress. Youth of my country is in the mood to take a leap, it is in the mood to leap and achieve new goals. I would like to say that this is a golden era for India. Even if we compare it to the global situation, this is a golden era…We should not let this opportunity go to waste…If we go ahead with this opportunity, with our dreams and resolutions, we will be able to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047…”

PM Modi on Friday said, “We gave the mantra for ‘Vocal for Local’. Today, I am happy that Vocal for Local has become a new mantra for the economic system. Every district has started taking pride in its produce. There is an environment of ‘One District One Product’…”

During his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, PM Modi hailed the banking sector reforms. He said, “Indian banks are now counted among the strongest in the world.”

Hailing his government’s work in the past decade, PM Modi said, “We have brought big reforms on ground. For the poor, middle class, deprived… for the aspirations of our youth, we choose the path to bring reforms in their lives. I want to assure the citizens of India that our commitment towards bringing reform is neither just for editorials, praise nor under compulsion. It is to strengthen the country,”

Independence Day 2024: “By overcoming all the hurdles, we can make India prosperous. We can achieve the target of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. If 40 crore people can break the shackles of slavery to gain freedom, then with the same spirit 140 crore people can make India prosperous,” says PM Modi.

“‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ are not mere words, they are the reflection of the resolve and dreams of 140 crore people. We are capable of making India a developed nation by 2047 with our resolve,” PM Modi said during his I-Day speech.

PM Modi at Red Fort, says, “We are proud that we carry the blood of the 40 crore people who had uprooted the colonial rule from India…Today, we are 140 crore people, if we resolve and move together in one direction, then we can become ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 by overcoming all obstacles in the way.”

After hoisting the national flag, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday started delivering his 11th consecutive address from the ramparts of Red Fort.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoists national flag at ramparts of Red Fort on 78th Independence Day

Prime Minister Modi has arrived at the Red Fort to hoist the national flag. Prior to this, he paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.