New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday hailed Indian democracy for allowing a person from "an ordinary family" to assume the country's top post.
"It is a tribute to Indian democracy" that a person from "a poor family, an ordinary family is today addressing the nation from the Red Fort," he said while delivering his Independence Day speech.
Make India a clean place
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday urged Indians to make the country a clean and healthy place.
"Do we want to live in filth?" the prime minister asked, delivering his maiden Independence Day speech after assuming office in May.
He said keeping the country clean was "a big task" and it would need everyone's cooperation.
"Can't our country be clean? If the people decide not to dirty our surroundings, no force on this earth can dirty it."
He said it would be ideal to make India a clean place by 2019 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who the prime minister said was a staunch believer in cleanliness.
Stop female foeticide
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday drew attention to the dismal sex ratio in the country, and appealed to Indians to stop female foeticide.
"Have we seen our sex ratio? Who is creating this imbalance in society? Not Almighty! I appeal to doctors not to kill the girl child," he said addressing the nation on its 68th Independence day.
He said: "I appeal to parents not to sacrifice the girl child."
The prime minister said he knew of families which had five sons and big houses but sent away their aged parents to old age home.
"At the same time, I have seen families with only one daughter who has not married to take care of her parents," he said.
Come, Make in India, Modi tells world
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday urged investors from around the world to make India a manufacturing hub, saying "Come, Make in India".
"I tell the world, Make in India," Modi said delivering his maiden address from the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day. "Sell anywhere but manufacture here. We have the skill and talent."
He added: "Our dreams should be that all over the world we can say 'Made in India'."
Give up caste, communal poison
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday urged Indians to give up the "poison" of casteism and communalism and embrace unity for the country's progress.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort, the prime minister said it was a shame that caste and communal politics continued even so many years after independence.
"How long will this continue?" he asked, his voice choked with emotion.
"We have fought enough, we have killed enough. Turn back and see, has anyone gained anything?"
He said that years of bloodshed had only caused deep wounds to "Bharat Mata".
The prime minister urged people to give up, at least for 10 years, caste and communal politics.
"Peace, unity, brotherhood should take over. Only these will help us to march ahead."
