New Delhi : India is celebrating its 74th Independence Day on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Rajghat and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi as the celebrations started.

The prime minister then proceeded to the Red Fort where he remembered those who laid their lives for India’s Independence.

Rajnath Singh and defence secretary Ajay Kumar received the PM at Red Fort. The PM received the guard of honour.

PM Modi unfurled the national flag and national anthem was played.

PM Modi also applauded the grit and resilience of the country’s frontline workers in fight against Covid-19, which has killed thousands in the country. He also stressed on the need to become self-reliant.

“Vocal for local should be the key slogan of independent India,“While we focus on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process,” said PM Modi.

“I am confident that measures like opening up space sector will generate many new employment opportunities for our youth. “Be it providing every household with electricity, cooking gas, creating bank accounts for the poor or building toilets in all houses, India has progressed a lot in every field in the last 6 years,”

“Education plays an important role in new India, and we have introduced the National Education policy, which will help our children grow and be equipped for global competition,” says PM Modi.

This one year is a year of the new journey of development for Jammu and Kashmir. This one year is the year of the rights received by the women and the Dalits in Jammu and Kashmir. This one year is also the year of a life of dignity for the refugees in Jammu and Kashmir,”

“Construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya started 10 days ago. Ramjanmbhoomi issue that prevailed for centuries, has been resolved peacefully. The conduct of people of the country has been unprecedented and is an inspiration for future,” said PM Modi in his Independence Day speech.

“There are more than 1,300 islands in our country. Keeping in mind their geographical location and their significance in the development of the nation, work to begin new projects in some of these islands is underway,” said PM Modi.

“All 6 lakh villages on India will be connected via optical fibre within 1,000 days,” he said.

Seventy-three years of independence from the British rule is being celebrated in a subdued manner due to the coronavirus crisis

Over 1,500 “coronavirus winners” who recovered from the disease, are present at the function in a symbol of the citizens’ determination to fight the pandemic and emerge winners.

Around 4,000 personnel are on security duty for the  74th Independence  day celebrations at Red Fort.