Indian PM vows to make India self-reliant on Independence Day

NEW DELHI, Aug 15 (KUNA) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to strive for self-reliance across all sectors and set the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047.
Speaking from the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi called on youth, farmers, industrialists, and scientists to contribute their best towards making India self-reliant.
Modi highlighted energy, solar power, semiconductors, AI, agriculture, and jet engines as key focus areas for achieving self-reliance.
Modi added that his government would prevent Indian-origin rivers from irrigating Pakistan, calling the Indus Water Treaty "unjust and one-sided," and claiming it has caused significant harm to Indian agriculture.
Modi also warned Pakistan that his country will punish its neighbor in case of any future attacks.
He emphasized that farmers, fishermen, and cattle rearers are top priorities, vowing to firmly oppose any policy that threatens their interests and assuring that India will never compromise on protecting them.
He praised the Indian economy, saying it is rapidly progressing toward becoming the world's third-largest economy despite global instability.
The Prime Minister pointed out that a task force will implement timely reforms in rules, laws, policies, and procedures to align with 21st-century global standards.
He expressed concern over the large amounts of money leaving India to meet energy needs and pledged to launch the National Deep Water Exploration Mission to discover underwater oil and gas reserves.
He also pledged to end all forms of slavery and to work hard to build a developed India by 2047.
Independence Day celebrations are held across the country hoisting the flag and holding programs to mark the end of the British rule on 15th August, 1947 after a long freedom struggle. (end) atk.so