Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pragmatic speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15 was different from the rhetoric of Congress Prime Ministers that we have been hearing over the last many years. He offered bank accounts for every citizen, with one lakh rupees of insurance cover. This way he has ensured the participation of every Indian in his national development agenda. He has asked MPs, MlAs and corporate houses to adopt one village as a model village with all facilities, including toilets in every home. He has announced the scrapping of the Panning Commission and replacing it with a more broadbased institution.
In addition, Mr Modi emphasised on social reforms (with a moratorium on communal riots), the need to end crimes against women, empowerment of the girl child, and the duty of parents to keep an eye on their male wards instead of just trying to ‘keep a check' on their daughters.