India marks 77th Independence Day

NEW DELHI, India – India marked its 77th Independence Day on Tuesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicking off the celebrations with a speech from the ramparts of the famed Red Fort, the seat of power of the Muslim Mughal Empire.

He said the government was making every effort to restore peace in the northeastern state of Manipur, where more than 150 people have been killed in violence between two communities in the past three months.

He was criticized for not commenting on Manipur for weeks during the violence.

Modi referred to recent reports that India had overtaken China as the world’s most populous country, with 1.4 billion people.

He cited demography, democracy, and diversity as India’s strengths.

Modi mentioned Manipur but left unmentioned the recent anti-Muslim riots on the outskirts of the capital, New Delhi, in the high-tech city of Gurugram, as well as rampant hate speech by members of his party.

Modi kept the upcoming G20 meeting at the center of his speech and said the country has a wonderful opportunity to make a mark. He said after the Covid-19 crisis, a new world order has emerged and Indians are playing an important role in shaping the changing dynamics.

The main opposition Congress party called Modi’s speech a crass election speech filled with distortions, lies, exaggerations, and vague promises.
“Instead of bringing the country together, to celebrate our journey so far, acknowledge the pain and anguish of those suffering, and accept the challenges ahead, he made it all about himself and his image,” a statement issued by the party said.

The party said that over the past nine years, India’s diversity has been rendered meaningless with attacks on regional cultures and languages and the legitimization of mob violence against the most vulnerable, especially Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities.