President of India Ram Nath Kovind and the three Service Chiefs paid tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti on 15 August, on the occasion of India's 71st Independence Day.
Along with Army chief General Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and IAF Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley also accompanied the PM Kovind for the event.
On 14 August, in his maiden address to the nation, President Ram Nath Kovind, while congratulating the nation on the eve of its 71st Independence Day, urged the people to pledge to achieve important goals to make a 'New India'.
"It is our national pledge to achieve important goals to make a 'New India'. There is no place for poverty in 'New India'," President Kovind said.
Praising the freedom fighters of India, President Kovind said the nation is indebted to those who laid down their lives for achieving this independence.
"It is time that we must take inspiration from those who gave their lives for the nation and move forward," he said.
He even lauded the Centre's Swachch Bharat campaign and said that it is not just the Government's duty to keep the nation clean but every citizen should strive to make India clean and pollution free.
"Government can make, implement and strengthen laws but it is everyone's duty to abide by them," he said.
-ANI