PM Modi’s 103-Minute Independence Day 2025 Speech: Operation Sindoor, Double Diwali Promise & GST Review

On August 15, 2025, India celebrated its 79th Independence Day with Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering his 12th consecutive address from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Lasting 103 minutes, it became the longest Independence Day speech in the history of any Indian Prime Minister — a record in both length and political intensity.

Major Announcements from the Red Fort

PM Modi’s address combined policy promises, strategic warnings, and symbolic gestures. Some of the highlights included:

🎯Operation Sindoor Praise – He made a special mention of Operation Sindoor, calling it an unprecedented example of India giving a befitting reply to the enemy using indigenously developed weapons. The remark was widely interpreted as a strong message to Pakistan.

🎯A Subtle Warning to the US – In a pointed reference to ongoing tariff disputes, Modi sent a clear signal to Washington, suggesting that India would respond firmly to unfair trade measures.

🎯Diwali Gift for the Nation – Modi promised that this Diwali will be a “double Diwali” for the country, hinting at a major announcement or relief package to be unveiled soon.

🎯Next-Generation Reforms – The Prime Minister announced the formation of a task force on next-generation reforms, underlining that India’s next phase of growth would focus on comprehensive improvements.

🎯Vision for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047: He reiterated the government’s vision for a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, outlining India’s progress towards becoming the third-largest global economy. Despite global instability, PM Modi highlighted that India’s macroeconomic indicators, forex reserves, and financial discipline are strong, making India a beacon of hope in the world economy. The focus remains on ensuring the benefits of growth reach all sections—poor, farmers, women, and the middle class

🎯GST Rate Review – PM Modi promised the next generation of GST reforms as a Diwali gift to the nation, aiming to substantially reduce taxes on essential items, increase benefits for MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), and help the common citizen by making everyday goods cheaper. The reforms are planned to boost both consumption and economic growth

🎯National Security Assurance – The PM reaffirmed India’s resolve to “enter the enemy’s home and strike if needed”, underlining that today’s India will not bow down to external threats.

Political Firestorm Over a Ministry Poster

While the PM’s speech grabbed headlines, a parallel controversy erupted when the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued Independence Day greetings featuring a picture of Mahatma Gandhi alongside Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

This image sparked outrage within the Congress Party, which accused the government of attempting to distort historical narratives. Critics claimed that placing Gandhi and Savarkar together undermined the ideological differences between the two leaders.

However, BJP leaders and their supporters defended the image as a representation of the diverse approaches within India’s freedom struggle, noting that Gandhi represented non-violent mass movements, while Savarkar symbolized revolutionary resistance.

Rahul Gandhi’s Absence and Congress’s Political Missteps

Adding to the controversy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi skipped the PM’s Red Fort address — a decision that critics claimed reflected disrespect towards the nation’s Independence Day traditions.

Political commentators suggested this was a strategic blunder, especially on a day when national unity is symbolically paramount. Several voices argued that the Congress under Rahul Gandhi is becoming politically irrelevant, with the party failing to position itself as a credible national alternative.

The Larger Political Message

PM Modi’s Independence Day 2025 speech was not just a celebration — it was a political positioning exercise:

✪ To reinforce BJP’s nationalist credentials.

✪ To project India as militarily and economically assertive.

✪ To draw ideological battle lines with the Congress Party.

In the eyes of many analysts, the speech exposed Congress’s inability to control the political narrative and further cemented the perception of a decisive, combative Modi versus an indecisive opposition.

Conclusion

From Operation Sindoor’s military pride to a Diwali promise for economic relief, from subtle foreign policy messages to fierce domestic political battles, PM Modi’s 2025 Independence Day address was more than a speech — it was a strategic declaration.

While the BJP leveraged history, nationalism, and reformist promises to rally support, the Congress found itself cornered in yet another Independence Day controversy, raising serious questions about its future as a national force.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s record-breaking 79th Independence Day speech from the Red Fort delivered bold announcements — from praising Operation Sindoor to promising a “Double Diwali” gift, GST rate review, and a strong message on national security. Read the full highlights and political impact on Daily Dozes.