79th Independence Day: 'India has now decided, blood and water will not flow together' - Top quotes from PM Modi's speech

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the nation from the ramparts of historic Red Fort for the 12th consecutive time on the occasion of 79th Independence Day .

The celebration began with PM Modi paying floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. After receiving the Guard of Honour upon arrival at the Red Fort, PM Modi hoisted the flag.

The theme of this year is 'Naya Bharat,' reflecting the government's vision of achieving 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.

"Wishing everyone a very happy Independence Day . May this day inspire us to keep working even harder to realise the dreams of our freedom fighters and build a Viksit Bharat. Jai Hind!," PM Modi wrote in a post on X.

"This great festival of freedom is a festival of 140 crore resolutions," PM said from the ramparts of Red Fort, adding that it is a festival of hope and aspirations.

Here are key quotes from his speech:

• "Whether it's the deserts or the peaks of the Himalayas, the shores of the ocean or the bustling cities, there is one voice across the nation: we all love India more than our lives," says PM Modi from the ramparts of Red Fort.
• "For 75 years, the Constitution of India has been showing us the path like a lighthouse."
• "I salute our brave soldiers who punished masters of terror beyond their imagination."
• "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats anymore, we won't fall for any blackmail. Destruction inflicted by our armed forces in Pakistan was so widespread, new revelations are being made every day. After April 22 (Pahalgam attack), we gave armed forces a free hand to respond to terrorists."
• "India has now decided, blood and water will not flow together. The people have come to realize that the Indus Waters Treaty is unjust. Water from the Indus River system has been irrigating the lands of the enemy, while our own farmers have suffered. What kind of agreement is this that has caused such immense loss to our farmers for the past seven decades?"
• "Slavery made us poor. It made us dependent, and over time, our dependence on others only grew. But our farmers led us toward self-reliance and ensured our food security. Even today, a nation's true pride lies in self-reliance, and that is the foundation of Viksit Bharat.
  
• "Dependence on others raises questions about a nation’s independence. It is unfortunate when dependence becomes a habit, a dangerous one. That’s why we must remain aware and committed to becoming self-reliant. Self-reliance is not just about exports, imports, the rupee, or the dollar. It is about our capabilities, our strength to stand on our own."
• "Our enemies had no idea about the capability of 'Made in India', which weapons are simple and which are powerful enough to destroy them in a moment. Just think, if we were not self-reliant, would we have been able to carry out Operation Sindoor with such speed?"