At 98 minutes, Modi's 78th Independence Day speech longest ever
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his longest Independence Day speech on Thursday, clocking in at 98 minutes. The address, delivered from the Red Fort in Delhi, broke his previous record of 96 minutes set in 2016. The average length of his speeches is 82 minutes, which is longer than any other Indian Prime Minister. Thursday's speech was Modi's 11th address as PM and his first after taking charge for a third term.
What did Modi say in his speech?
In his 98-minute-long speech, PM Modi discussed a range of topics including freedom fighters, corruption, India's growth, atrocities against women, and the current unrest in Bangladesh. He expressed pride in carrying the legacy of 40 crore people who uprooted colonial rule from India. He also addressed the political crisis in Bangladesh following former PM Sheikh Hasina's resignation, expressing hope for a swift return to normalcy and safety for Hindus and minority communities.
Modi's comments on Bangladesh
"As a neighboring country, I understand the worry regarding what happened in Bangladesh. I hope that situation becomes normal there soon. The safety of Hindus and minority communities there must be ensured," he said. He added, "India always wants our neighboring countries to walk on the path of peace and harmony. We are committed toward peace. We will always have best wishes for Bangladesh's development journey in the coming days."
Modi announces creation of 75,000 new medical seats
The PM also announced that 75,000 new seats will be created in medical colleges across India. "In the last 10 years, we have ensured that there are nearly 1 lakh medical seats. Nearly 25,000 youngsters go abroad for medical education, and they are having to go to such places that it astonishes me," he stated. "Due to this, we have decided that in the next five years, we will create 75,000 new medical seats," he announced.
PM Modi's previous speeches
PM Modi's first Independence Day speech in 2014 lasted 65 minutes. His subsequent speeches in 2015, 2018, and 2021 were approximately 88 minutes long. In 2019, he spoke for nearly 92 minutes and in 2020, his address was 90 minutes long. His shortest speech was delivered in 2017, clocking in at around 56 minutes. Last year, Modi addressed the nation for about 74 minutes from the Red Fort.
