I-Day celebrations

Fire brigade march as they participate in the country's 68th Independence Day celebrations at CST in Mumbai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today declared that he would like to run the country on the basis of consensus and not on majority in Parliament.

He also called for a 10-year moratorium on caste and communal violence.

India's 68th Independence Day

Policemen march as they participate in the country's 68th Independence Day celebrations at the Mantralaya in Mumbai.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of historic Red Fort for the first time, Modi also asked the misguided youth who have taken to terrorism and naxalism to shed their guns and adopt the path of peace and development.

Policemen participate in I-Day celebrations

India celebrates its 68th Independence Day in Mumbai.

Less than three months after taking over as Prime Minister, Modi unveiled a roadmap for his government, announcing a financial inclusion scheme for the poor, development of model villages by MPs and launching of a scheme for elimination of open defecation.

A boy holds the national flag

Independence day celebrations

A boy holding the national flag as the country celebrates its 68th Independence Day in Mumbai on 15th August, 2014.

In his 65-minute extempore speech in Hindi, Modi also announced that the Planning Commission, a socialist-era vestige, would be soon replaced with a new institution keeping in view the economic changes internally and globally.

Independence Day celebrations

Mumbai police celebrating Independence day.

Asserting that he was speaking not as the Prime Minister but as "prime servant", Modi made a special mention of the services rendered by his predecessors and former governments for the country's development.
 
Seeking the cooperation of all political parties and pledging to take their help, he referred to the Parliament session that concluded yesterday, saying "it was a reflection of our thinking and intention to move forward not on the basis of majority but on the basis of strong foundation of consensus."

Photos by Kamlesh Pednekar

Police celebrates I-Day 

NASDAQ greeted India on its Independence Day by displaying a huge banner on its massive electronic site at Times Square, in the heart of Hew York City. Ghanshyam Dass, Senior Advisor India, NASDAQ OMX Group said, ”NASDAQ has always had a special relationship with India and as the country marches ahead with renewed confidence, NASDAQ looks forward to working with more Indian companies and participating in the country’s economic growth and prosperity.”

I-Day celebrations

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