PM Modi keeps his promise, concludes his I-Day speech in 56 minutes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a promise late last month and he lived up to his words too.

Modi made his shortest Independence Day speech on Monday as he concluded his address to the nation on Independence Day in 56 minutes from the imposing 17th century Mughal marvel the Red Fort, exactly an year after he made the longest one at 96 minutes.

His first speech in 2014 lasted 65 minutes and the next year saw an increase to 86 minutes. This when his predecessor Manmohan Singh used to conclude his address in 32-50 minutes while A B Vajpayee used between 25-35 minutes in his speeches. The first
Independence Day speech by Jawharlal Nehru lasted 72 minutes.

Modi had said in his radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' in July that he had received letters from people complaining that his Independence Day speeches were "a little too long" while promising to cut short his address.

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If the length of the speech was less, the Prime Minister did not leave without giving slogans to ponder like 'Bharat Jodo' (Unite India) and 'Badal Sakta Hei' (We can change) instead of 'Chalta Hei' attitude. He then goes on to call the youth 'Bhagya Vidhatas' (fortune makers) of the country.

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Modi did not leave the school children gathered at Red Fort unhappy as he walked up to them after his speech. Some of the children were dressed like Lord Krishna as the city is celebrating Janmashatami, the birthday of Lord Krishna. Some of them had also taken positions to form the word 'Bharat'.

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Wearing his trademark kurta and a Rajasthani headgear, Modi was received with a thunderous applause by those gathered at the Red Fort when he arrived there. Modi got down from his black Range Rover and waved to the crowd. Soon he unfurled the tricolour, which was synchronised with a 21-gun salute. The Air Force Band played the National Anthem when the National Guard presented a "Rashtriya Salute".

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Present on the occasion were former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP National president Amit Shah and Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and J P Nadda, among others.

Independence Day Speeches

Narendra Modi

2017 -- 56 minutes
2016 -- 96 minutes
2015 -- 86 minutes
2014 -- 65 minutes
Manmohan Singh

2004-13 -- Between 32-50 minutes

AB Vajpayee

1998-2003 -- Between 25-35 minutes

Jawaharlal Nehru
1947 -- 72 minutes