Nothing new in PM Modi's Independence Day speech: Congress

Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden Independence Day speech delivered from the ramparts of the Red Fort had nothing much or new to offer and lacked impact.

"It was a zero-effect speech; there was nothing new in it. It seems that he is still in campaign mode," said Ahmed.

Another Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that although Modi said that he would like to work in unity with the opposition, his actions in the parliament told a different story.

"Although the PM said that he wanted to take the opposition along, it did not seem so in Parliament," said Alvi.

Party leader Manish Tewari said that it would be best to let the people of the country judge the prime minister's speech.

"There is a certain propriety attached to this occasion. This is the Prime Minister's fist speech at the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day. We should let the people of the country judge what they think about the PM's speech," said Tewari.

Earlier the Prime Minister unfurled the flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort after inspecting the guard of honour.

During his address, he touched upon issues related to poverty, women safety, female foeticide, the importance of the IT sector, the discontinuation of the planning commission, ways to improve India's tourism, investment potential cleanliness, making India the global manufacturing hub of the future and the problem of farmer suicides and how best to resolve it.