Modi Marks 11th Independence Day with Agenda-Setting Speech at Red Fort

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the national flag for the 11th consecutive time on Independence Day. His speech will likely cover key government agendas, policies, and current issues such as the situation in Bangladesh and developments in Jammu and Kashmir. Expectations are high for new initiatives amid strong opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unfurl the national flag for the 11th consecutive year on Independence Day, delivering a landmark speech from the ramparts of Red Fort. This will mark his first Independence Day address in his third term.

The speech, anticipated to highlight the theme of 'Viksit Bharat,' will see him surpass Manmohan Singh's record and place him just behind Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in terms of Independence Day addresses. Observers believe the Bangladesh crisis and the plight of minority Hindus might be mentioned given the strong stance of Hindutva groups.

Modi is expected to discuss his government's mandate for a third term and elaborate on how reforms and welfare measures have impacted the nation. There is curiosity around whether he will announce new initiatives, especially as the opposition rallies behind populist welfare promises.

Jammu and Kashmir, frequently mentioned in Modi's past speeches, might again be a focal point given recent terror incidents and the upcoming assembly election deadline set by the Supreme Court. Key decisions such as housing scheme expansions and infrastructural boosts could be spotlighted, alongside contentious changes to Waqf board regulations.

(With inputs from agencies.)