Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier invited suggestions from citizens about themes and issues that they felt he should speak about in his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort.
The Hindu had also asked its readers for their opinion on what PM Modi should speak on.
Here, we have curated some of the best responses by our readers in several categories. The responses have been edited for clarity.
Issues of Intolerance (Dalits, Muslims, Cows)
Saurabh Kaushik:
According to democratic theory, most famously as articulated by the political scientist J.S. Mill, the most important challenge to a democracy arises when the majority tramples upon the rights and freedoms of the minorities. This is when it confronts the danger of turning into a form of mobocracy, with street trials and unconstitutional mob justice, replacing legally enshrined constitutional values and principles. The Rule of Law as espoused the Constitution is the only hedge against a rampant ignominy of street hooliganism.
Ravi:
I think it is important to address the issue of hatred in our country . Day by day all extra constitutional forces are taking laws in hand and we hear every other day someone is beaten up or harassed across country. Development without social harmony is worthless affairs.
Srinivas:
To remind our Honourable Prime Minister, "sabke saath sabka vikas".
Rajiv:
The cow vigilantism and Dalit alienation if not controlled now can have serious consequences in the coming years. Then it will be very difficult for the government to control. It is a severe threat to the fabric of the society. I urge PM to speak on these to assure the downtrodden that at least someone is heeding to their voices.
Raman Virk:
If Indian politics still continues to play on the basis of divide and rule policy based on the caste system it will not take much time for the very concept of India as a nation to shatter. Instead Indian government must strive to eliminate caste and religion based disparities to unite the nation which is at the brink of imploding if such intolerance and extreme orthodox ideologies continue to be practiced by the very people who govern our nation.
Digital India
Achilles Gaikwad:
There are certain things which might boost the development of India faster, like good internet services all over the country with low latency. More access to knowledge would simply mean encouraging literacy. I think it is really easy, and ISPs in India aren't good at providing people with basics or just dig money for poor services.
Economy
Vijay:
PM should speak (about) how he will increase the sources of revenue and reduce the tax burden on the common people.
Education
Nagarjuna:
Education becomes still costly for mostly middle class people and school fees are skyrocketing. Quality of education at government schools is still under debate. So I need the prime minister to speak about Right to education to everyone and the ways to curb high fees in private schools.
Praveen:
Although there are number of issues we are facing, one perennial problem we have been experiencing is the primary education system in India. We need to address this and cannot leave it as just the state subject. Central government needs to operate more public funded primary schools equally distributed across the nation in the model of Kendriya Vidyalaya, so that apathy of the state govt. run schools does not break the future of the next gen. We need to take care of the rural/poor masses and cannot leave their children's future in the hands of private players, although some of them are doing a good job.
Issan Patri:
What are our plans for higher education? A country of India's size should have at least 10 or so universities of international repute, with faculty and students drawn from around the world. We had a great tradition, with universities like in Nalanda, Taxila, etc. Unfortunately, now research has been restricted to a few research institutes and universities are in a truly bad shape. The only way to improve them is by increasing funding, by relaxing rules, full autonomy and ending the participation of political parties in university elections.
Governance
Bharti Garg:
Governance is the linchpin of all the endeavors taken by government. Good governance will make the government responsible for their people for their welfare. From this platform i would convey the message to our beloved PM to take some harsh decision which will ultimately benefit our country for long run. as a leader of this multi-diverse and multi-cultural country , the good governance is only key to reach out all citizen.
Prem Kumar Gutty:
Good governance means rules and processes are followed at every level, City, State and Center. Every one has to work within the system. If there any lacunae in the system then changes have to brought in through proper procedure. Good governance should enable the public to stand on their own. Support on exceptional times is accepted. But, if the system is such that it hampers necessitates a person to be dependent on state always then it is not Good governance. Freebies in any form hamper the inherent fire in the individual to excel on his own. We should move away from the culture of state sponsored freebies.
Internal Security (Kashmir, Maoists, Northeast)
Harvinder Singh:
India is a union of states. We love and cherish our freedom struggle. India has to stay unified but not at the cost of rampant loss of lives, not as a police state but as a welfarist state connecting to people directly and give them a proud feeling to be Indian. PM Modi should honour Irom Sharmila and others by revoking AFSPA on this Independence day to actually make the people feel independent in our great nation.
Lalitha:
The current situation in Kashmir seems to be going on without an end. It is the time for the Prime Minister to address the issue and the action plan that government is planning in Kashmir
Bharat Garg:
The progressive status of a nation is largely dependent on its human resources vis-a-vis it's economy, society and the polity. The well being of the people is the only policy of a welfare state. Where the people are under constant threat of violence, apprehension of civil war between its own citizens as well as communal tensions and there is lack of trust in our defence forces, can this agenda of welfare state be attained? Big Question
