72nd Independence Day: PM Modi says 'Will unfurl tricolour in space by 2022'

Addressing the nation on the 72nd Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that by the year 2022 India will unfurl the tri-colour in space. The year 2022 will mark India's 75th Independence country.

"India is proud of our scientists, who are excelling in their research and are at the forefront of innovation. In the year 2022 or if possible before, India will unfurl the tricolour in space," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of Red Fort.

Taking note of India's progress at the International stage, the Prime Minister said that from being seen as among the fragile five, India is now the land of reform, perform and transform. "We are poised for record economic growth. India's voice is being heard effectively at the world stage. We are integral parts of forums whose doors were earlier closed for us," he reiterated.

The Prime Minister further highlighted certain important decisions taken under his government, saying that his government delivered what was pending since decades.

"The One Rank One Pension (OROP) demand was pending for decades. The people of India, our brave army personnel had faith in us and we were able to take a decision on OROP. We will always take decisions in the interests of our nation," said Prime Minister Modi.

"Who did not want the passage of the GST yet it was pending for years? Last year GST became a reality. The demand for higher MSP was pending for years. From farmers to political parties to agriculture experts, everybody was asking about it but nothing happened. With the blessings of the farmers, the decision on MSP was taken by our Government," he added.

Taking a dig at the previous governments, Prime Minister said that if his governmnet worked at the same pace as theirs it would have taken decades to make critical commodities, like electricity and toilets, available across villages of the country.

"If we had continued at the same pace at which toilets were being built in 2013, the pace at which electrification was happening in 2013, then it would have taken us decades to complete them," said Prime Minister Modi.

He also lauded the honest taxpayers of the nation, saying that the lives of millions of poor people are being transformed due to their contribution.

This was the Prime Minister's fifth Independence Day speech after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power in 2014.

As far as the celebrations across the country are concerned, the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar is illuminated in tricolours of the national flag. In Delhi, The Parliament, Vayu Bhawan, North and South Blocks are also adorned with tri-colour. Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Moradabad railway station, among others, have beautifully been lit in colour's of India's national flag.

(ANI)