Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 12th consecutive Independence Day speech, reiterated that India would not bow down to “nuclear blackmail”. Taking a dig at Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir’s recent nuclear threat against India in the US, PM Modi said that India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats anymore. He also added that the nation will not differentiate between terrorists and those supporting them.
Addressing the nation from the historic Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day after unfurling the national flag, PM Modi hailed Operation Sindoor and its heroes. He said that the armed forces were given full operational freedom after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack to decide the plan, timing and target of India's response, and added that the forces “punished enemies beyond their imagination”.
Emphasising that “blood and water cannot flow together”, PM Modi said India and its farmers have the sole right over the country's share of Indus river waters and termed the Indus Water Treaty “unjust and one-sided”. The Indus Water Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, has governed the use of the Indus river and its tributaries between India and Pakistan since 1960.
“The treaty had caused enormous harm to agriculture in India. We will not endure it any further,” he added.
‘Nature putting everyone to test’
PM Modi also made it a point to highlight the recent recent natural calamities, including landslides and cloudbursts, and offered condolences and expressed solidarity with those affected by it.
“Nature is putting us all to the test. In recent days, we have witnessed a series of devastating events, landslides, cloudbursts and numerous other calamities. Our heartfelt condolences and solidarity are with those who have been affected."
Yesterday, a massive cloudburst in the Kishtwar district caused flash floods and landslides in the remote Chositi village, which is enroute the annual Machail Mata pilgrimage, with more than 40 feared dead. Himachal Pradesh, too, has been heavily impacted by the rains, with numerous incidents of flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides claiming more than a hundred lives so far. Uttarkashi too saw a devastating flash flood recently, which swept Dharali village killing at least five people.
Before heading to the Red Fort for the I-Day speech, PM Modi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in New Delhi.
I-Day: Multi-tier security arrangements at Red Fort
Delhi was transformed into a high-security fortress ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. Over 14,000 security and traffic police personnel have been deployed across the city.
At the historic Red Fort, the security arrangements are more stringent. This includes snipers on high-rise buildings surrounding the fort, along with rooftop surveillance teams. CCTV cameras, cutting-edge drone detection systems, facial recognition technology, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are monitoring the venue and its surrounding areas.
A notable enhancement this year is the deployment of Under-Vehicle Surveillance Systems (UVSS) at five key parking zones near the Red Fort. This state-of-the-art technology scans the undersides of vehicles for potential explosives, weapons, or contraband.
Also, headcount cameras are tracking crowd numbers, while specialised devices are in place to flag unattended or suspicious objects.
Special teams are monitoring railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, airports, and metro stations, and intensifying passenger screenings, baggage checks, and random identity verifications.
Delhi Police Commissioner S.B.K. Singh has assigned a DCP-rank officer to oversee anti-drone mechanisms, while surveillance along the Yamuna River has been intensified with the aid of speedboats.
Additionally, cyber units are monitoring social media platforms to detect and neutralise potential online threats or misinformation campaigns.