Now Reading: HT revisits Vajpayee, Deve Gowda I-Day speeches
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HT revisits Vajpayee, Deve Gowda I-Day speeches
Hindustan Times has revisited the 2003 and 1996 Independence Day addresses of former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and H. D. Deve Gowda as part of its series on iconic Red Fort…
The Story in Brief
Hindustan Times has revisited the 2003 and 1996 Independence Day addresses of former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and H. D. Deve Gowda as part of its series on iconic Red Fort speeches.
In his last August 15 speech as PM, Vajpayee said India's economy had become the fourth largest in purchasing power and stressed growth, poverty alleviation and employment. Deve Gowda, speaking as a farmer's son, focused on democracy, social justice and national unity, warning about foreign infiltrators and arms smuggling in the Northeast.
The Indian Opinion
The lazy narrative that Independence Day speeches are all alike is false: each PM's address reflected his era. Vajpayee's 2003 boast on economic heft now looks modest given today's rapid growth, while Deve Gowda's Northeast alert remains relevant. Instead of treating these as nostalgic soundbites, ask: how many of their promises were actually kept? A scorecard for each speech would settle that argument.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, hindustantimes.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
