New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted the armed forces for striking deep into hostile territory during Operation Sindoor, accused Pakistan of nuclear blackmail, and announced a sweeping economic plan, including GST reforms and a ₹1 lakh crore youth employment scheme. He made these declarations during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort.
Delivering his twelfth consecutive Independence Day speech, Modi opened with strong condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, where infiltrators killed civilians after asking their religion. “They shot husbands in front of wives, fathers before children,” he said. “India’s rage reached every corner of the country.”
India’s military response and its message
Modi described Operation Sindoor as a decisive retaliation. He said Indian forces crossed into enemy territory and destroyed multiple targets. “Our soldiers punished the perpetrators beyond their imagination,” he said. Daily revelations, he noted, are emerging from inside Pakistan about the extent of destruction.
He declared that India no longer distinguishes between terrorists and those who support or fund them. “Both are enemies of humanity,” he said. Modi warned that India would not tolerate nuclear threats, describing decades of such blackmail as over. “We will no longer endure it. The army will now decide the timing, method, and objective of any response.”
He reaffirmed the policy shift by stating, “Blood and water will not flow together.” According to him, rivers originating in India should serve Indian farmers, not hostile regimes.
A unified India under constitutional light
Touching on Article 370, Modi said his government had fulfilled Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s vision by removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. “We dismantled the Article 370 wall and honoured our commitment to national unity,” he said.
He called Independence Day a celebration of collective success. “This is not just a national event. It’s the pride of 140 crore Indians,” he said. “Every village, city, and remote border outpost echoes with unity.”
He credited the Constitution for providing moral clarity and direction. “It continues to serve as a guiding light for every democratic action we take,” Modi said.
Massive GST reform and youth employment push
Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, a ₹1 lakh crore job scheme targeting first-time private sector workers. Under this plan, each new recruit will receive ₹15,000. Companies generating large-scale jobs will receive government incentives. He projected that 3.5 crore young Indians could benefit from this effort.
He also announced a major reform of the Goods and Services Tax system. “We are bringing next-generation GST reforms,” he said. “Rates will drop significantly, and common taxpayers will feel true relief.”
Calling it a Diwali gift, he said the new GST structure will lighten the tax burden on the middle class. “This is the need of the hour,” he added.
Semiconductors and nuclear energy expansion
Modi highlighted progress in India’s semiconductor sector. “Fifty years ago, the project began but never moved. Now six plants are running, and four more have approval,” he said. He added that India-made chips will hit markets by year-end.
On energy, he said India is building 10 new nuclear reactors and allowing private companies into the sector. “We aim to increase nuclear power capacity tenfold,” he said.
Local manufacturing and defence capability call
He urged scientists and engineers to design and build jet engines for indigenous combat aircraft. “We must not depend on imports. India needs its own jet propulsion system,” he said.
To promote domestic production, he reinforced the vocal for local message. “We must reduce costs and lead in electric vehicles. The future belongs to India if we act now,” he said.
India 2047 and systemic reforms
Modi reiterated his goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. He said that the government was building modern, resilient ecosystems across every sector. “This is not a party agenda. It’s a mission for the entire country,” he said.
To support this vision, he announced the formation of a task force for next-generation reforms. “Our focus is no longer on piecemeal changes. We aim for total reform,” he said.
