File photo of Vice President Hamid Ansari.
Greeting the people on the eve of Independence Day, Vice-President Hamid Ansari in a message said one must "resolve to work hard towards achieving the goal of prosperity, social equality and dignity for every citizen of India."
The Vice-President said, "We salute and pay tribute to our valiant freedom fighters whose courage and sacrifice led to freedom of our country from the oppressive colonial rule of more than 200 years...
"This Independence Day let us resolve to work hard towards achieving the goal of prosperity, social equality and dignity for every citizen of India."
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said in a separate message issued by her office, "It is a day to renew our pledge to the pious task of nation-building and to rededicate to the noble values of brotherhood, harmony and mutual trust... "I wish the Independence day this year will unite us all to make India a vibrant and stronger world power."