Modi addresses nation on I-Day, unfurls national flag at Red Fort

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted the people on the occasion of India's 72nd Independence Day.

"Independence Day greetings to the people of India. Jai Hind!" Modi said in a tweet.

Modi reached Rajghat and paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Modi also unfurled the national flag at the Red Fort to mark the Independence Day.

Dressed in a white kurta and a safa (turban) of a similar hue tinged with orange and green, he unfurled the flag at the 17th century monument amid a 21-gun salute.

Modi was received at Lahori Gate of Red Fort by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra.

He then reviewed a tri-services guard of honour.

This is Modi's fifth speech at the Red Fort since he became the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister during his address, praised a group of six women officers of the Navy for circumnavigating the globe, saying that the nation's daughters have crossed the seven seas and painted the world in tricolour.

"We are proudly celebrating Independence Day today as six women officers of the Indian Navy, circumnavigated the globe recently on the INSV Tarini," Modi said in his speech after unfurling the national flag.

Saluting the women, Modi said: "Our daughters have crossed all seven seas and have coloured the world in tricolour."

Lieutenant Commanders Vartika Joshi, who led the team, and Prathibha Jamwal, and Lieutenants Swathi Patarpalli, Aishwarya Boddapati, Vijaya Devi and Payal Gupta spent over eight months at sea, sailing around the world in six legs on the Indian Naval Sailing Vehicle (INSV) Tarini.

The crew spent 194 days at sea and nearly eight months away from home port. It was the maiden attempt by an all women naval officers. They covered a distance of nearly 22,300 nautical miles (41,255 km).

Modi also hailed the tribal children for unfurling the national flag on Mount Everest. "I would salute the children of tribals who unfurled the national flag on Mount Everest and made India proud," he added.

He then paid tributes to freedom fighters and the armed forces for protecting the national flag.

"On behalf of the people of India, I bow to all those great women and men who sacrificed themselves for the nation during the freedom movement," the Prime MInister said in his Independence Day speech after unfurling the national flag at the Red Fort here.

"I salute the Army personnel and other forces who sacrifice their lives to protect India's national flag," Modi said.

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre. "Next year on Baisakhi, it will be 100 years of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. I bow to them who fought for independence and sacrificed their lives."

Modi said his thoughts also lay with the families of those who have lost their lives due to floods in various parts of India.