INDEPENDENCE DAY 2026: PM MODI HAILS END OF ARMED NAXALISM, WARNS AGAINST 'DIMAGI NAXALS' IN RED FORT ADDRESS

"Naxal-Maoist violence has lost its strength and is breathing its last," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he outlines internal security achievements and economic growth on India's 80th Independence Day.

NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the historic Red Fort on Saturday morning to lead the nation in celebrating its 80th Independence Day. Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The Defence Secretary introduced the General Officer Commanding (GoC), Delhi Area, Lieutenant General Rajesh Sethi, to the Prime Minister. Lt. Gen. Rajesh Sethi then conducted PM Modi to the Saluting Base, where the Prime Minister inspected the ceremonial Guard of Honour comprising personnel from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Delhi Police.

Following the inspection, Prime Minister Modi ascended the ramparts of the Red Fort to hoist the National Flag. As the Tricolour unfurled, a 21-gun salute was fired by the gunners of the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial) using indigenous 105mm Light Field Guns, synchronized with an aerial flower shower by two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters. In a landmark moment for India’s national celebrations, the National Song Vande Mataram was formally rendered during the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort for the very first time. Commemorating 150 years of the iconic song, the rendition was played by the Army Band alongside the National Anthem immediately following the flag hoisting.

Commencing his 13th consecutive Independence Day address to the nation, Prime Minister Modi expressed solidarity with families affected by recent natural calamities: "In the last few days, some parts of the country have witnessed floods, which have affected many people. I assure the affected families that the whole country stands by them."

Highlighting national sentiment, PM Modi stated, "Today, every heart is beating with the rhythm of Vande Mataram. Aaj har ghar Tiranga hai, har mann Tiranga hai." (Today, every home has the Tricolour, every heart has the Tricolour).

Addressing the nation on major internal security milestones, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the decisive shift in anti-Naxal operations: "In the 21st century, it is imperative to eliminate the challenges that have persisted for decades. Naxalism and Maoism have devastated the futures of lakhs of youths; they snatched away young men in the prime of their lives from their mothers, ruined them, and shattered the dreams of their parents. It made a mockery of the Constitution, and more than 3,500 of our police and security personnel were martyred while protecting ordinary citizens... When you gave us the opportunity in 2014, we resolved to free the country from Naxalism. Today, I am happy to say that Naxal-Maoist violence has lost its strength and is perhaps breathing its last. We are moving towards its complete eradication; in those very areas where Naxal bullets once flew, and the earth was stained with blood, the tricolor of development, trust, and collective effort now flies high because the region is free from Naxalism." He added that while armed Naxals in the forests have been uprooted, the nation must remain vigilant to identify and isolate "dimagi Naxals" (intellectual Naxals) who attempt to mislead the youth.

Emphasizing economic self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and domestic manufacturing milestones over the past decade, the Prime Minister outlined key sectoral statistics: "In the last 12 years, defence production has increased by four times; production by Khadi and Gramudyog has increased five times; electronic manufacturing has grown by seven times. Mobile phone production has increased by 33-fold, and digital transactions have grown by 100-fold."

Expanding on India's global stature, mindset shift, and long-term roadmap, PM Modi urged the nation to aim higher to achieve the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047: "Today, India has a big dream to become a developed nation by 2047. When the world's most populous country takes the resolution to become a developed nation, it becomes an introduction of our courage, and the world is compelled to look at us with a different perspective. Small dreams will no longer suffice. We must dream big, because big dreams expand our thinking, broadening the horizons of our thoughts." Reflecting the twin themes of '150 Years of Vande Mataram' and 'Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047', the Prime Minister asserted that self-reliance, innovation, internal security, and youth energy will continue to drive India's rapid transformation on the global stage.