Highlights: PM Modi launches ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, flags off salt march in Gujarat
Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi paid tribute to the freedom fighters and said India would showcase to the entire world its achievements. Apart from the freedom struggle, he said four pillars — ideas, achievements, actions and resolve — would inspire the dreams and duties of India.
FollowOn the 91st anniversary of the historic Salt March led by Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off a symbolic 386-kilometre ‘Dandi March’ from Ahmedabad, which will culminate on April 6 at Dandi in Navsari district. The event started a 75-week countdown to India’s 75th anniversary of Independence — Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
The government plans on holding 75 events as part of the celebrations, which will be held till August 15, 2023.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi paid tribute to the freedom fighters and said India would showcase to the entire world its achievements. Apart from the freedom struggle, he said four pillars — ideas, achievements, actions and resolve — would inspire the dreams and duties of India.
Here are the highlights of his speech:
· Today is the first day of the Amrit Mahotsav of independence. This Mahotsav has started 75 weeks before 15th August 2022 and will run till 15th August 2023.
· The mahotsav is being launched from places that were major centres of India's freedom struggle, including Sabarmati Ashram, Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab etc.
· Freedom Struggle, Ideas at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions and Resolves at 75 - these five pillars will inspire the country to move forward.
· Azadi ka amrut mahotsav' means the elixir of the energy of freedom, it means the nectar of inspiration from freedom fighters, the nectar of new ideas, the nectar of new resolutions. and the nectar of self-reliance.
· Salt has never been valued by its cost in our country. Salt here means honesty. Salt means faith. Salt means loyalty.
· I pay tribute to Bapu on this occasion, those who sacrificed their lives and those who led the independence struggle.
· I pay tribute to brave soldiers who after independence maintained the tradition of defending the nation and sacrificed their lives for the security of the country. I pay tribute to those who rebuilt the country in these 75 years.
He then attended a cultural programme at Abhay Ghat where he launched the Azaadi ka Amrut Mahotsav. The mahotsav is a series of events that commemorates India's 75 years of independence.
PM Modi launched a website for Amrit Mahotsav as well as an 'Atmanirbhar Incubator' that seeks to support around 40,000 families involved in traditional craft.
After addressing the Amrit Mahotsav programme, PM Modi flagged off the ‘padyatra’ from Ahmedabad to Dandi.
The central government has constituted a committee under Union Home Minister Amit Shah to chalk out policies and planning of various events to be undertaken as part of the celebrations.
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were present at the launch of the celebrations.
