Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unfurled the national flag at the historic Red Fort on the occasion of 69th Independence Day amid loud cheers from the public.
As soon as the Prime Minister’s cavalcade arrived at the venue, thousands of people from the general public and schoolchildren rose to get a glimpse of their leader with a thunderous applause. Modi got down from his armoured car and waved at the crowd.
He then inspected the guard of honour and walked to the ramparts of the Red Fort and unfurled the tricolour at 7.30 in the morning.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh along with the Defence Secretary received Modi as he arrived at the lahore Gate. Before coming to Red Fort, Modi went to Rajghat and paid homage to Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.
According to police, about 40,000 people attended the function. There were seating arrangements for 22,000 people, including 8,000 VVIPs and VIPs, 4,000 for school children and 10,000 for the general public. Throughout the speech, people kept cheering and clapping jubilantly. The public responded to every pause with a loud cheer. People from all walks of life had queued up to participate in the event as early as 5.00 am. Around 10,000 seats were set aside for general public at the venue and they were filled by 7:00 am. Security personnel had a tough time managing an enthusiastic crowd.
Tricoloured balloons were released after the Prime Minister concluded his speech. When Modi’s cavalcade was leaving the venue, children waved their caps and scarves and greeted him. As last year, the Prime Minister stopped his car and went to meet the children. He shook hands with some kids and greeted them on the occasion.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with wife Gursharan Kaur, lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi Chief Arvind Kejriwal were some of the VVIPs present for the event.