Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation at the Red Fort on Independence Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office insisted that his first Independence Day speech would be delivered without a bullet-proof shield at his podium at Delhi's historic Red Fort. There was another break from tradition - more than 10,000 members of the public were present; the occasion is usually reserved for VIPs. (
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Mr Modi, wearing a saffron turban, opened his speech by declaring "I am here as your
pradhan sevak (main server) not as the
Pradhan Mantri (Prime Minister)." (
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Mr Modi, 63, accused recently by the opposition of trying to stifle its voice in the just-concluded Parliament session, said, "We want to rule not by the strength of our majority, but with the power of consensus." (
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Mr Modi led the BJP to the biggest mandate in 30 years at the national elections. He paid tribute to previous governments and prime ministers for helping shape India. (
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Drones and hundreds of security cameras were used along the route the PM took to Red Fort. He stopped en route to pay homage at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial and then inspected the Guard of Honour at the Red Fort before beginning his extempore speech. He used neither a teleprompter nor notes. (
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Plush strings of white flowers fluttered prettily in the breeze on the stage from where he made his speech. (
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