Pomp and ceremony as Modi calls for 'new' India on 70th anniversary

India's PM defends his war on corruption on the day the country celebrates seven decades since independence from Britain.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves after addressing the nation from the historic Red Fort

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a "clean" and "new" India as the country celebrated 70 years of independence.
His impassioned plea came amid pomp and ceremony to commemorate the moment at midnight in 1947 when the country was no longer part of the British Empire.
Around 8,500 children took part in celebrations and formed the word "Bharat", or "India" in Hindi, as soldiers dressed in full regalia marched across a parade ground.
In a speech that did not mention the partition that followed independence, Mr Modi's words attempted to inspire a country that has been dogged by corruption, inter-communal violence, terrorism and economic sluggishness throughout many of the seven decades.
His call came amid a debate about whether a surge of Hindu nationalism is undermining the country's secular ideals.
Also, whether a battle against corruption, which has seen hundreds of thousands forced to admit financial "mistakes", is being won.
Speaking at Delhi's Red Fort, the spot where the Muslim Mughal dynasty ruled much of India before they were eclipsed by the British East India Company, the leader of the Hindu nationalist BJP said: "We will not tolerate violence in the name of faith."
He went on to speak at length about delivering a "new India" for the country's 1.3 billion people by 2022.
"India is celebrating honesty today. The corrupt have no place to hide anymore," he said. "Together we will create an India that will be free of terrorism, communalism and casteism.
An Indian armoured vehicle blocks a street during a strike in the Kashmiri city of Srinagar on Independence Day
"Together we will create an India where there will be no compromise with corruption and nepotism. Together we will make an India that is clean, healthy and self-reliant.
"We may have grown up in despair, but now we have to move ahead with confidence."
The partition of the Indian subcontinent into India, Pakistan and East Pakistan - later Bangladesh - was overseen by the British Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten.
It resulted in one of the biggest mass movements of people the world has ever seen as Muslims rushed to be in Pakistan and East Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs travelled to India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers his speech at the Red Fort
Hundreds of thousands died in violence that was unleashed by a process that many claim was badly managed.
The resentment that remained after partition led to ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan including several wars.
The tension remains at the heart of the unresolved dispute over Kashmir.
Mr Modi used the speech to underline India's right to defend what it sees as its borders, saying: "Be it the sea or the (land) border, cyberspace or space, India is capable of providing any kind of security for itself and of diminishing the confidence of anyone wishing to harm the country."
Activists of the Youth Forum of Kashmir burn Indian flags during a protest in Lahore on a day they call Black Day
And about Kashmir, where the state government says at least 43,000 people have died in unrest, he said: "The problem will not be solved by abuse nor will the problem be solved by bullets... Only by embracing the Kashmiris, will the problem be solved."
Pakistan, which celebrated independence on Monday, put on a patriotic display and a show of airpower, but the following day, some Pakistanis burned Indian flags as they protested what they say is India's occupation of Kashmir.
Bangladesh celebrates independence on 26 March as that was the day after it declared it was breaking away from Pakistan.
By;Worldcoinsmoney.blogspot.com
INDIA, PAKISTAN.

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