New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from Red Fort on Wednesday as India celebrates its 72nd Independence Day. This will be PM Modi’s last Independence Day speech before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He will be received by the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State (MoS) for defence Dr Subhash Bhamre and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra.
This will be the fifth time that PM Modi will address the nation on the occasion of Swatantrata Diwas 2018. Stay with India.com for Live Updates on PM Narendra Modi’s speech from Red Fort on Independence Day 2018. (Live Streaming of PM Modi’s Independence Day Address)
PM Modi is likely to begin his Independence Day 2018 address at 7.30 AM. The proceedings of Swatantrata Diwas 2018 celebrations will be aired on Doordarshan. The Prime Minister’s speech will be live-streamed on YouTube. It will broadcast on All India Radio in about 20 different languages through the day.
This year, PM Modi has received as many as 30,000 ideas from the public which could be incorporated in his I-Day speech. People have sent the suggestions through mygov.in and NaMo App. As per reports, of all the ideas received till now, over 2,000 were reportedly sent from the rural areas. The PM is likely to pick up 50 of the ideas for his Independence Day speech.
What to Expect From PM Modi’s Independence Day Speech
PM Modi is likely to announce a slew of social welfare schemes on the occasion of Independence Day. He may also announce tweaking of the Sukanya Sammridhi Yojana to provide more benefit to the girl child along with benefits for about 32 crore Jan Dhan account holders.
According to PTI sources, the government may also announce an attractive micro insurance scheme. Furthermore, to provide relief to the old-age people, Modi may announce doubling of the maximum limit under Atal Pension Yojana. Currently, the amount is limit to Rs 5,000.
In addition, the speech may also mention crucial issues like the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Rafale Deal, mob lynching and atrocities against Dalits.
Traffic Restrictions
Meanwhile, traffic restrictions have already been put in place for the Independence Day function. While half a dozen roads will remain closed on Wednesday and the traffic will be diverted on some roads, the DMRC has said parking facilities will not be available at its stations.
Parking facilities will not be available at the Delhi Metro stations from 6 am on August 14 till 2 pm on August 15 in view of the security measures adopted on the occasion of Independence Day.
Six roads – Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, SP Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg and Esplanade Road – and its Link Road will be closed for general public from 5 am to 9 am.
Local city buses, including of DTC, will not move on Ring Road from 4 am to 11 am on August 15, between Hanuman Setu and Bhairon Road T-point and take alternative routes available. Buses ordinarily terminating at Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Delhi main railway station will be curtailed or diverted.
Alternative routes will remain open to railway stations, bus stations and hospitals near the venue of Independence Day function.
Security Beefed up
Security in the national capital has been tightened. The Red Fort from where Prime Minister Modi will address the nation has been put under a high security cover. Around 70,000 Delhi Police personnel and about 90 companies of security forces have been deployed.
Last year, Modi spoke for nearly 54 minutes from the Red Fort, which was his shortest Independence Day address to the nation since 2014. He spoke for over 65 minutes in 2014, 86 minutes in 2015, and 94 minutes in 2016.
