Delhi's Red Fort will witness another flag-hoisting ceremony on Sunday after the Independence Day function earlier on August 15. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist tricolour at the historic fort to mark the 75th anniversary of the 'Azad Hind Government' headed by Subhas Chandra Bose.
The function is scheduled to take place at 9 am.
Traditionally, the prime minister hoists the national tricolour at the Red Fort on August 15.
Modi had announced on Wednesday that he would join a flag-hoisting ceremony at Red Fort on October 21. Bose had announced the formation of the country's first independent government on October 21, 1943.
The Prime Minister would also lay the foundation stone of a museum dedicated to the Azad Hind Fauj.
In a video interaction with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers on Wednesday, Modi spoke at length about his government's works to celebrate the contributions of many personalities who, he said, were neglected by the Congress in its rule of several decades.
"I will have the opportunity to participate in a flag-hoisting ceremony at Red Fort on October 21. Now you will ask - why the flag-hoisting on October 21? I know some people will criticise even this. What is the significance of this day? This October 21, it will be 75 years of Subhas Chandra Bose's 'Azad Hind Government," Modi said.
While the Congress neglected the likes of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the BJP believed in remembering everybody who contributed to nation-building, he said, citing his government's works, including constructing museums for noted tribal personalities and developing five places linked to Dalit icon Ambedkar.
"We respect everybody who served the country," he said while noting that he recently inaugurated a statue of Sir Chhotu Ram in Haryana.
He also hit out at the Congress over its criticism of him and the BJP government in Gujarat over Sardar Patel's statue project, claiming that the opposition party was in fact insulting Patel as it always had contempt for the country's first home minister, credited for uniting hundreds of princely states.
History knows that the Congress had a lot of contempt for Patel and it could never tolerate him being recognised for his works, Modi said, attacking the opposition party for its "Made in China" jibe at the project.
(With PTI inputs)
