Independence Day: India marks its 77th year of independence today
Taking a swipe at the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India feels more secure now as the "era of serial blasts is over."
"Today, the country is seeing a drop in terror attacks. Borders are now more secure," the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation on the 77th Independence Day of the country.
Highlighting his government's effort in poverty alleviation, the PM said over 13.5 crore poor people came out of poverty to become part of neo-middle, middle classes, in the last five years alone. "When the country celebrates its 100th Independence Day in 2047, it would be as a developed nation," he said.
PM Modi said that India's biggest capability is trust - "People's trust in the government, in country's bright future and world's trust in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unfurled the flag at 7.30 at Delhi's Red Fort. In a departure from his usual style, he today addressed the 140 crore Indian citizens as "parivarjan (family members)".
Cabinet ministers, political leaders, all three service chiefs and bureaucrats were present for the occasion.
The celebrations at the Red Fort were held under strict security, with the deployment of 1,000 facial recognition cameras, anti-drone systems, and over 10,000 police personnel.