NEW DELHI — Delivering a powerful Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 15, 2025) sent a strong message to Pakistan, declaring that India will no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail and will respond decisively to any threats. He emphasized a “new normal” in India’s security doctrine — making no distinction between terrorists and those who support them.
In a direct reference to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, where militants from across the border carried out a brutal massacre after singling out victims by religion, the Prime Minister said the country’s fury had found expression in Operation Sindoor. “This was not just an operation; it was the nation’s answer to terror,” he asserted.
On foreign policy and water rights, PM Modi took aim at the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it detrimental to India’s agriculture. “The attack in Pahalgam has once again shown the futility of continuing this agreement,” he said, hinting at a possible review of the decades-old arrangement.
Shifting to India’s technological ambitions, the Prime Minister announced a historic milestone — the launch of the first made-in-India semiconductor chip by the end of 2025. He revealed that six semiconductor manufacturing units are already operational, with four more projects receiving the green light. This, he said, would not only make India self-reliant in the critical tech sector but also position it as a global manufacturing hub.
In a heartwarming moment, specially-abled students in Srinagar performed the national anthem in sign language as part of the nationwide Independence Day celebrations, drawing applause for their moving tribute to the nation.
The speech, Modi’s 12th consecutive Independence Day address, blended hard-hitting warnings with ambitious visions, setting the tone for India’s security and technological roadmap in the years ahead.