On Independence Day, BSF offers sweets to Pakistani Rangers

Border Security Forces (BSF) and Pakistani Rangers exchanged sweets at Wagah-Attari border to mark India's 72nd Independence Day. 

Officers and personnel of the BSF and Pakistani Rangers looked relaxed as they shook hands with each other besides sharing pleasantries for a few minutes.

On Saturday, Pakistani Rangers had offered traditional Pakistani sweets to their Indian counterparts on the occasion of Independence Day of Pakistan.
On January 26 this year, the BSF had refused to exchange sweets and greetings with their Pakistani counterparts in the wake of heightened tension between the two nations.

A wave of happiness and patriotism has run across the country, as people across the country can be seen hoisting the Indian flag and playing the National Anthem. 

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the Indian Flag at the historical monument Red Fort and proceeded to address the nation. He touched upon several topics, including sacrifices of the freedom fighters, the 100th anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, progress since 2013, Indian Space mission 2022, women empowerment, Indian economy, Kashmir - to name a few. 

PM Narendra Modi today said India will be the engine of growth for the world economy for the next three decades as the "sleeping elephant" has started to run on the back of structural reforms like GST.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day, he listed out the pace of reforms in the last four years of his government that pulled out the country from being considered a "fragile and risky" economy to being the fastest in the world.

Prior to 2014, India was likened to policy paralysis and delayed reforms. "India was considered among 'fragile five' but today the world is seeing it as a destination of multi-billion dollar investment. The narrative has changed," he said.

The government's motto, he said, is reform, perform and transform.

Similarly, Cheif Ministers of various states including Mamata Banerjee, Devendra Fadnais, Edappadi K. Palaniswani and Arvind Kejriwal hoisted the Indian flag in their respective state capitals. 

Meanwhile, citizens across the country have can be seen hoisting flags on their own accord and flying tricolored flags under a free sky.

(With agency inputs)