Modi refuses to be a prisoner of protocol
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Clouds covered the sky as people started trickling in from 4am onwards to witness the 69th Independence Day celebrations at Red Forton Saturday.
PM Modi's Independence Day speech: 12 key announcements
The vicinity of the Mughal-era monument reverberated with the sound of hasty footsteps, beeping of metal detectors and an enthusiastic clamour. Even as security personnel patrolled the city's roads, the mood remained that of festivity.
By 6.30am all the enclosures were full with VIPs, armed forces personnel, ordinary citizens and schoolchildren, all sharing the same patriotic ardour. India gave the world '0' and the country's contributions to the fi eld of mathematics are unparalleled. At the crack of dawn, the compere started eulogising India's achievements from the days of yore.
READ ALSO: Let's take nation to 'new heights', time to 'Start up and Stand up' - PM Modi
Quotes from the Bhagvad Gita, Sanskrit shlokas and Yoga putting India on the world map were spoken about too. PM Narendra Modi's pet schemes took centre stage with large LCD screens at the venue portraying Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jan Dhan Yojna, Digital India, Make in India, Atal Pension Yojana and Jeevan Jyoti Yojana.
While 3,500 girl students and 700 NCC cadets started walking in to the tunes of Ab tumhare hawaale watan saathiyon and Ae mere watan ke logon, and took their place on Gyan Path to form a Jai Bharat formation in the tricolour, stills from Modi's fi rst Iday speech were being occasionally fed to the screens.
READ ALSO: Not a single charge of graft against my govt, PM Modi says
At 7.23am when the PM's convoy reached Lahori Gate, the mood at Red Fort was upbeat with most of them in the audience speculating on what the eloquent PM had in store for them. He was welcomed by defence minister Manohar Parrikar, MoS for defence Rao Inderjit Singh, defence secretary G Mohan Kumar and the commanding offi cer of the Delhi region. This year, Navy being the coordinating service, the guard of honour was commanded by Commander Yoginder Sharma. The three contingents of the Army, Navy and IAF were led by Major Sumiran Vyas, Lt Commander Chanoraveer Singh Yadav and Squadron Leader Shakthi Vigneshwar, respectively.
Following this the unfurling of the Tricolour was synchronized with a 21-gun salute.
READ ALSO: PM Modi vows to end corruption, says Rs 6,500 crore disclosed under black money law
At 7.32am PM Modi started what was to be the longest ever I-day speech. Dressed in a cream colour kurta and light brown jacket, he addressed his "125-crore Team India" without a bulletproof glass, teleprompter or a written speech. What excited students the most is his proposal to do away with interviews at lower levels of government jobs. "I don't understand why one can't evaluate the candidate's performance online by assessing his/her marksheet on the internet," he said.
He called upon various organizations and state governments to look into making the employment model friendlier to people who move to bigger cities for work.
READ ALSO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's I-Day speech - highlights
The PM then introduced the concept of 'Start up India, Stand up India' in his speech. "Startups have always been there. It is not a new culture. Even in small towns there are people who come up with small businesses of their own. This new concept of Modi that aims to create more jobs will work only if there is a well-disposed loan mechanism even in rural areas." says Ajay Mehta, an entrepreneur who watched the PM's speech on television.
The most awaited moment came when Modi, in his usual fashion, broke the protocol and walked through the area where the kids were seated. Alfi ya, a class VIII student of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Jama Masjid, said, "I have been here twice. He shook my hand. I have so much to tell my parents when I get home. It was amazing."
Complete coverage of 69th Independence Day
Offi cials from the directorate of education had a tough time controlling the kids, who went berserk as soon as Modi reached out to them. "We had planned everything so well. The PM's visit was so sudden, the students became very diffi cult to control," said one of the offi cials.
Aanchal Pal of SKV, Magazine Road, a class XI student had a similar story. "We woke up at 4am. We were seated here for fi ve hours, but it was worth it. I am a big fan of Modi and could fi nally catch a glimpse of him from close quarters."
Kusum Goyal, a class VIII student, says he follows the PM's concept of Swachh Bharat. "I think even children can play their part in transforming the country into a great nation by taking small steps like keeping our surroundings clean," Kusum adds.
Students at the venue were also seen collecting their empty water bottles in plastic bags.
As the celebrations at Red Fort concluded, tricolour balloons soared high in the grey sky and the sound of 'Vande Mataram' fi lled the air.
PM Modi's Independence Day speech: 12 key announcements
The vicinity of the Mughal-era monument reverberated with the sound of hasty footsteps, beeping of metal detectors and an enthusiastic clamour. Even as security personnel patrolled the city's roads, the mood remained that of festivity.
By 6.30am all the enclosures were full with VIPs, armed forces personnel, ordinary citizens and schoolchildren, all sharing the same patriotic ardour. India gave the world '0' and the country's contributions to the fi eld of mathematics are unparalleled. At the crack of dawn, the compere started eulogising India's achievements from the days of yore.
READ ALSO: Let's take nation to 'new heights', time to 'Start up and Stand up' - PM Modi
Quotes from the Bhagvad Gita, Sanskrit shlokas and Yoga putting India on the world map were spoken about too. PM Narendra Modi's pet schemes took centre stage with large LCD screens at the venue portraying Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jan Dhan Yojna, Digital India, Make in India, Atal Pension Yojana and Jeevan Jyoti Yojana.
While 3,500 girl students and 700 NCC cadets started walking in to the tunes of Ab tumhare hawaale watan saathiyon and Ae mere watan ke logon, and took their place on Gyan Path to form a Jai Bharat formation in the tricolour, stills from Modi's fi rst Iday speech were being occasionally fed to the screens.
READ ALSO: Not a single charge of graft against my govt, PM Modi says
At 7.23am when the PM's convoy reached Lahori Gate, the mood at Red Fort was upbeat with most of them in the audience speculating on what the eloquent PM had in store for them. He was welcomed by defence minister Manohar Parrikar, MoS for defence Rao Inderjit Singh, defence secretary G Mohan Kumar and the commanding offi cer of the Delhi region. This year, Navy being the coordinating service, the guard of honour was commanded by Commander Yoginder Sharma. The three contingents of the Army, Navy and IAF were led by Major Sumiran Vyas, Lt Commander Chanoraveer Singh Yadav and Squadron Leader Shakthi Vigneshwar, respectively.
Following this the unfurling of the Tricolour was synchronized with a 21-gun salute.
READ ALSO: PM Modi vows to end corruption, says Rs 6,500 crore disclosed under black money law
At 7.32am PM Modi started what was to be the longest ever I-day speech. Dressed in a cream colour kurta and light brown jacket, he addressed his "125-crore Team India" without a bulletproof glass, teleprompter or a written speech. What excited students the most is his proposal to do away with interviews at lower levels of government jobs. "I don't understand why one can't evaluate the candidate's performance online by assessing his/her marksheet on the internet," he said.
He called upon various organizations and state governments to look into making the employment model friendlier to people who move to bigger cities for work.
READ ALSO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's I-Day speech - highlights
The PM then introduced the concept of 'Start up India, Stand up India' in his speech. "Startups have always been there. It is not a new culture. Even in small towns there are people who come up with small businesses of their own. This new concept of Modi that aims to create more jobs will work only if there is a well-disposed loan mechanism even in rural areas." says Ajay Mehta, an entrepreneur who watched the PM's speech on television.
The most awaited moment came when Modi, in his usual fashion, broke the protocol and walked through the area where the kids were seated. Alfi ya, a class VIII student of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Jama Masjid, said, "I have been here twice. He shook my hand. I have so much to tell my parents when I get home. It was amazing."
Complete coverage of 69th Independence Day
Offi cials from the directorate of education had a tough time controlling the kids, who went berserk as soon as Modi reached out to them. "We had planned everything so well. The PM's visit was so sudden, the students became very diffi cult to control," said one of the offi cials.
Aanchal Pal of SKV, Magazine Road, a class XI student had a similar story. "We woke up at 4am. We were seated here for fi ve hours, but it was worth it. I am a big fan of Modi and could fi nally catch a glimpse of him from close quarters."
Kusum Goyal, a class VIII student, says he follows the PM's concept of Swachh Bharat. "I think even children can play their part in transforming the country into a great nation by taking small steps like keeping our surroundings clean," Kusum adds.
Students at the venue were also seen collecting their empty water bottles in plastic bags.
As the celebrations at Red Fort concluded, tricolour balloons soared high in the grey sky and the sound of 'Vande Mataram' fi lled the air.
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