‘India Does Not Want Incremental Progress, A High Jump Is Needed’: PM Modi Talks About 21st Century India

On the occasion of 73rd Independence Day, Prime Minister (PM) Modi is addressing the nation from the Red Fort, reports Indian Express. This will be his sixth Independence Day speech, and first after winning the Lok Sabha elections 2019.

The Prime Minister said that India doesn’t want incremental change and a high jump is required.

"I always ask- can we not remove the excess influence of Governments on people's lives. Let our people have the freedom of pursuing their own aspirations, let the right eco-system be made in this regard. India does not want incremental progress. A high jump is needed, our thought process has to be expanded. We have to keep in mind global best practices and build good systems," he said.

PM Modi also talked about the India of 21st century and people's aspirations.

“Now is the time to think about the India of the 21st century and how the dreams of the people will be fulfilled. We are following a plan to fulfill aspirations of the New India,” he said.

"Earlier, people were happy with merely a plan to make a railway station. Now people ask- when will Vande Bharat Express come to my area. People do not want only good railway stations or bus stations, they ask- when is a good airport coming. Earlier the aspiration was to have a good mobile phone but now, people aspire better data speed. Times are changing and we have to accept that," he said.

PM Modi said that before the elections in 2013-2014 he went all over the country in order to try to understand the feelings of the people. “There was disappointment on everyone's face, people used to think can this country change?" he said.

"In 2019, I was amazed, the mood of the people of the country had changed, disappointment had turned into optimism, dreams became connected with desire and everyone was on the same page that this country can change," he added.