English

Hindi

Opposition slams Narendra Modi's I-Day speech; industry, Bollywood term it 'inspirational'

Written By Pratik Mukane | Updated: Aug 15, 2014, 04:57 PM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the nation from the Red Fort on India's 68th Independence Day. Even though this was Narendra Modi's first Independence Day address to the nation as PM, the critics already had their swords out. In fact, Tushar Gandhi in a leading English news channel admitted  that he had decided to find flaws in Modi's speech even before it had happened.

Opposition parties criticised Modi's maiden speech claiming that Modi was still in campaign mode. Some politicians though chose to take a neutral stand, leaving it to the public at large to interpret the speech. Senior BJP leader LK Advani praised Narendra Modi for speaking extempore. Here is how politicians and the common man reacted to Modi's Independence Day speech:

Claiming that there was nothing substantial in the speech, Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said, " It was a zero effect speech from the Prime Minister and had nothing new in it. Narendra Modi is still in a campaign mode."

Another Congress spokesperson, Manish Tewari, said the following:

Taking a dig at Modi's move to replace Planning Commission with a new institution, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Modi's speech seems to be an attempt to centralize powers in the hands of just one man."

Questioning the measures to prevent crimes against women, Samajwadi Party's Naresh Agarwal said, "Prime Minister spoke about rapes, female foeticide but didn't clarify measures to be taken to prevent rapes and to increase security for women.

Also read: Jan Dhan scheme, model village, sanitation for women, digital India: Highlights of Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech

On the other hand, people from the film and corporate fraternity praised Narendra Modi for his speech terming it inspiring. 

Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tweeted:

Sanjay Baru, media adviser to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "Speech by Modi was truly inspirational! Modi spoke like a PM should. Planning Commission belonged to Nehruvian era. Was Nehru's creation. Now PM Modi to mark a new era with new institution! History in making!"

Also read:  On its 68th Independence Day, does India have #FreedomFrom intolerance?

Inspirational speech by our PM @narendramodi this morning. Proud moment for everyone. Hope to see the changes in the future. #optimistic ..

Also read: Girls' toilets, sexual abuse, Planning Commission: 10 issues Narendra Modi discussed in his Independence Day speech

Common people had mixed views about Modi's speech: