Delivering his 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort — surpassing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s record of 11 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the nationwide unity and patriotic spirit resonating from deserts to Himalayan peaks, coastal edges to bustling cities.
Highlighting the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 in August 2019, PM Modi said, “When we brought the mantra of one country, one constitution to life by demolishing the wall of Article 370, when we accepted one nation, one Constitution as the mantra, we revered Shyama Prasad Mookherjee.” He described the gathering at the Red Fort as a “miniature India,” with representatives from diverse walks of life — from Panchayat members and ‘Drone Didis’ to sportspersons and community leaders.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Shyama Prasad Mookherjee on his 125th birth anniversary, calling him the first person to sacrifice his life for India’s Constitution and acknowledging his contributions to the nation’s political, educational, and cultural landscape.
Applauding the widespread participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, PM Modi noted that “over 140 crore Indians are carrying the colours of the tricolour” and that the praises of the motherland are being heard in every corner of the country.
This year’s Independence Day also spotlighted the success of Operation Sindoor, with the Gyanpath display featuring its logo alongside themed floral arrangements. Around 5,000 special guests attended the celebrations, including India’s Special Olympics 2025 contingent, international sports champions, Khelo India Para Games gold medallists, top-performing farmers, and achievers from various government initiatives.
For the first time, more than 140 patriotic band performances are being held across India by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, NCC, and paramilitary forces to commemorate Operation Sindoor and enhance national pride.
The abrogation of Article 370, carried out in August 2019, revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and reorganised the state into two Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
