New Delhi:The removal of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution within 10 weeks of the new government has come as step towards realising the dreams of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

PM Modi said this while addressing the nation from the rampart of Red Fort in Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day of India.

He said, “The new government has not even completed 10 weeks in office but even in this small period we have taken and strengthened initiatives in all directions.”

“10 hafte ke andar anuched 370 aur 35a ka hanta Sardar Patel ke sapnon ko sakar karne main ek aham kadam tha (The removal of Articles 370 and 35a of the Constitution within 10 weeks of the new government is an important step towards realising the dreams of Sardar Patel),” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

“What was the reason that this problem persisted for so many years?” PM Modi asked in his I-Day speech.

Its not even been 10 weeks into the new government; and yet all our efforts have been strengthened; we are dedicated to serving the people of the country: PIB India

He said, “Jo kaam pichle 70 saal main nahi hua, wo kaam nayi sarkar ne 70 dinon main kar diya (The work that wasn’t done in 70 years has been done by the new government within 70 days of coming to power).”

“Today the country says, one nation, one Constitution. We are committed to realise Patel’s dream of ‘ek Bharat, shresta Bharat (One India, great India),”PM Modi said in Independence Day speech.

“The old arrangement in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh encouraged corruption, nepotism but there was injustice when it came to rights of women, children, Dalits, tribal communities. The dreams of sanitation workers were incomplete. How can we accept such a situation,”PM Modi said.

The old arrangement in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh encouraged corruption, nepotism but there was injustice when it came to rights of women, children, Dalits, tribal communities. The dreams of sanitation workers were incomplete. How can we accept such a situation: (PMO India)

“Those who supported Article 370, India is asking them: If this was so important and life changing, why was this Article not made permanent. After all, those people had large mandates and could have removed the temporary status of Article 370,”Prime Minister Modi said.

The PM also makes a call for giving up the use of plastic. He says people should launch a movement to use cloth and jute bags. “Can we free India from single-use plastic? The time for implementing such an idea has come. May teams be mobilised to work in this direction. Let a significant step be made on 2nd October,” the PM notes.

PM Modi also touches upon the problem of terrorism in his speech. “Those who give protection to terrorism and support it must be exposed. Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka also are affected by terrorism. All countries in the world need to come together to fight this menace,” he says.

PM Modi notes his government has been working to tackle corruption and black money. “Every effort made to remove corruption and black money is welcome. These are menaces that have ruined India for 70 long years. Let us always reward honesty,” he says.

The PM notes that Muslim women had suffered due to triple talaq: “We have to think about solutions to the problems people face. Yes, there will be obstacles on the way but we have to work to overcome them. Remember how scared the Muslim women were, who suffered due to Triple Talaq but we ended the practice. When Islamic nations can ban it, then why can’t we? When we can ban sati, when we can take strong steps against female infanticide, child marriage, then why not this?” he asks.

Meanwhile PM Modi said that Achieving $5 trillion economy target achievable;India added $1 trillion in 5 years.Reforms will continue and procedures will be further eased to make it easier for companies to do business in India;he added

PM Narendra Modi says about New India “this is the time to think about the India of the 21st century and how the dreams of the people will be fulfilled.”

This is the first Independence Day speech of PM Narendra Modi in his second term as prime minister. Overall, this is the sixth time that PM Modi has addressed the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day.