From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked India to shed away negativity and work for the development of the country. Making an appeal to the 'Team India' of 125 crore citizens of the country, Modi in his speech at India's 69th Independence Day asserted that the focus of the country should be on 'Start up' and 'Stand up' India.
"We are looking at systems for enabling start-ups. We must be Number 1 in start-ups. Our focus must be on 'Start-up India' & 'Stand up India'," he said.
The Prime Minister also laid the focus in his speech on eradication of corruption from the country. Claiming that corruption has become a part of the Indian system, Modi said that he and his government is "determined to rid the country of the termite of corruption".
"I am determined to end the termite of corruption. Corruption had become part of the system. Contractors and brokers were running the nation. We have taken steps to correct the system. India can be free of corruption but we need to start from the top. A lot of measures need to be taken to eradicate corruption but it can be done," he said adding that medicines need to be injected to rid of termites.
Looking back at the 15 months of his government at the Centre, he declared that there has been no allegation of corruption against his regime since he assumed charge in May 2014.
Modi added that the Swachh Bharat campaign which was announcement by him in 2014 has been his government's "biggest achievement". Praising the children and the young, he said that they were the campaign's "biggest brand ambassador".
"It was a unique thing for the country when I announced the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan on last Independence Day from Red Fort. Today, I congratulate the Team India for the achievement of this abhiyaan," Modi said.
Referring to how he spoke about toilets and cleanliness in his first Independence Day, he said that many had then wondered "what kind of a PM is he, talking about these issues".
But "if there is something that has touched every person, it is the movement towards cleanliness," he said. "People from all walks of life, spiritual leaders, media friends, celebrities, everyone has worked to create awareness about the Clean India campaign," he added.
Not missing a chance to take potshots at the previous United Progressive Alliance led by the Congress, he said that it had become a fashion to keep making new laws but he added that they were of no use.
Claiming that his comments were not aimed at the coal scam involving the UPA government, the PM said that the present government has been successful in conducting coal block auction which has fetched Rs 3 lakh crore for the national exchequer.
He also added that his government has made tough laws on black money and people and stated that people are afraid of bringing in black money now. "Some people are worried about the tough law on black money. It has ensured that nobody dares to take black money out of the country," he said.
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