Modi breaks Indira's record, next is Nehru
India's second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered speeches from the Red Fort ramparts for two Independence Days in 1964 and 1965.
Post-emergency, Morarji Desai delivered the prime minister's address twice at Red Fort. Chaudhari Charan Singh gave an Independence Day speech only once in 1979.
After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi carried out the honours of the prime minister's speech five times from Red Fort.
VP Singh addressed the nation from the rampart of Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day only once in 1990.
PV Narasimha Rao addressed the nation for four consecutive years from the Red Fort (1991 to 1995).
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Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Sanitation workers, govt school teachers forced to attend PM's event, claims AAP
A fresh political row broke out on Sunday as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that the BJP government in Delhi forced government school teachers, sanitation workers and other civic employees to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event in Rohini where he inaugurated two national highways. While the AAP called the move an 'insult to the teaching profession' and 'coercion of government staff', the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) rejected the claims, saying that no such orders were issued. AAP Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that MCD teachers, malaria department staff, licencing officials and sanitation workers were compelled to attend the event. 'On a holiday when people were supposed to rest or perform puja for Janmashtami, Deputy Commissioners sat in their respective offices across all zones and issued orders to employees of different departments, mobilising them for PM Modi's rally.' Several AAP leaders and MCD councillors said that they reached some pick-up spots early in the morning and found that staff of various departments were being mobilised in buses. They shared videos, which, according to them, showed sanitation workers being taken to the venue. In one such note related to the event, the Deputy Commissioner of the Education department of the Central Zone directed that MCD school teachers must report at the pick up spots by 7 am, from where buses would leave at 7:30 am for the Prime Minister's events. It was further stated that all teachers must attend the rally. Workers of the anti-malaria department also claimed that detailed instructions were issued to their supervisors to monitor attendance at the PM's event. According to them, circle in-charges were told to send a photo of the number plate of the buses they board in the morning, take another photograph after sitting inside the bus, and a third on reaching the programme venue. They added that staff were warned against disobeying senior officers' orders or creating any disturbance. Commenting on the alleged directions, Leader of Opposition, Atishi said, 'It is wrong to be threatened and dragged to the rally in the name of duty…Sanitation workers' duty is to keep the city clean, not to turn into crowds; By forcing them, BJP is indulging in petty politics.' Responding to the Opposition's remarks, MCD Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said, 'These are unnecessary claims, MCD employees are also citizens of Delhi, they went there because they wanted to listen to their PM…after falling out of power, the AAP is jobless so they are unnecessarily making an issue out of everything.' Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia claimed that government school teachers were instructed to gather and clap during the Prime Minister's event. 'PM Modi inaugurated road projects in Delhi on Sunday. It is a good thing. But what is shocking and shameful is that the BJP's Delhi government issued government orders forcing all teachers to attend the ribbon-cutting event just to clap,' Sisodia said. He added: 'The BJP is unable to find people who will willingly attend their programmes. Since no one is ready to come, they issued a diktat that every principal and teacher of Delhi's government schools must be present, so that when the Prime Minister cuts the ribbon, there will be applause. This is deeply shameful.' Arguing that the move went against the respect traditionally accorded to teachers, Sisodia said, 'Our country has always said, 'Guru Govind dou khade, kake lagoon paay. Balihari Guru aapne, Govind diyo bataye.' But today the situation has been turned upside down. PM Modi and the Guru both are present — PM Modi cuts the ribbon and gives a speech from the stage, while the Guru stands below and claps. Is this the responsibility of teachers? Is it not an insult to the teaching profession when the government issues orders saying that when the Prime Minister inaugurates a road, every teacher must stand there and clap? The BJP must apologise to Delhi's teachers for this insult.' 'Just a few months ago, when Arvind Kejriwal's AAP government was in power in Delhi, orders were issued to send principals to IIMs, to Finland, to Singapore, and teachers to Cambridge for training. That was the atmosphere in Delhi. But now the scene is that the Prime Minister is cutting the ribbon of a road, and all the teachers are standing there to clap,' he added. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also addressed the media and claimed that the mobilisation of government employees showed a lack of public enthusiasm for the BJP. 'Such a situation has been created that no one is willing to listen to Narendra Modi. That is why they are summoning sanitation workers and teachers to fill their rallies. They may create fake crowds through such artificial means, but this will bring them no benefit.'
The Hindu
22 minutes ago
- The Hindu
The Hindu Morning Digest: August 18, 2025
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Business Standard
22 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: Promises of big reforms, failed talks, and new ideas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12th Independence Day address laid out fresh economic and security priorities. He announced a task force to streamline regulations, continuing efforts to scrap outdated rules. On taxation, he promised GST reforms with two main slabs of 5 and 18 per cent, plus a 40 per cent rate for sin goods. While this may ease compliance, concerns remain over revenue, notes our first editorial. On security, he launched Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an indigenous defence shield, and a demography mission to tackle illegal migration in border regions, underscoring both immediate and long-term goals. Meanwhile, the Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without progress. Trump failed to secure even a ceasefire in Ukraine and seemed to back Russia's demand that Kyiv cede occupied territory. The outcome bolstered Putin's stature while leaving Ukraine exposed as doubts rise over US support, highlights our second editorial. For President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the failed summit casts a shadow on his upcoming White House meeting and raises questions about Washington's reliability in conflicts worldwide, including Taiwan, with implications for countries like India. And back home, the GST debate has resurfaced. Ajay Shah, Vijay Kelkar and Arbind Modi write that while Modi's plan reduces seven slabs to two plus a sin tax, it falls short of the 'perfect GST' — a single low rate with full input tax credit. Restricted credit burdens MSMEs, while larger firms gain. A single 12 per cent rate with direct Union-State sharing could simplify compliance and raise revenues by 1.4 per cent of GDP. They also call for redesigning IGST and including petroleum, electricity, gold, and luxury goods. India's soybean sector, notes Surinder Sud, faces stagnation with output stuck at 12.5 million tonnes. Farmers are shifting crops due to low returns and climate pressures. Industry bodies want 2026 declared the 'Year of Soy' to raise awareness and expand cultivation. Rich in protein and nutrients, soy could cut oil imports, fight malnutrition, and boost exports, but consumption is just 2 grams per person per day against 40 grams in China. Processing and policy support could put the crop on a sustainable path. Finally, in today's book review, Sanjeev Ahluwalia explores why inequality coexists with surprising stability in India. Drawing on his family's history as Kerala gold money lenders, the book argues that social distance, cultural compacts, and restrained displays of wealth maintain legitimacy. Urban chaos, he suggests, may itself act as a leveller. While some claims feel overstated, the work is witty and insightful, offering fresh reflections on why India continues as both India and Bharat. Stay tuned!
