New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday termed 2017 a special year and urged to take the country ahead with determination to create a "New India".
"This is a special year. This year we are celebrating 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, 100th anniversary of Champaran Satyagraha and 125th anniversary of Ganesh Utsav," the Prime Minister said while addressing the nation after unfurling tricolour at the Red Fort on the 71st Independence Day.
"We have to take the country ahead with the determination for creating a New India," he added.
Recalling the combined efforts made between 1942 and 1947 to gain freedom, the Prime Minister appealed to the citizens to show similar power, effort and determination for the next five years to help the country progress.
The surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in Pakistani territory proved to the world India's strength, Modi added.
Praising the armed forces, the PM said: "In free India it is very important to protect the country. The surgical strike was a proof to the world about India's strength."
He further maintained every soldier, irrespective of whether he was in the Army, Navy or Air Force, was contributing to the country.
"Our soldiers have stood against everything that is against the country such as infiltrators, militants... The world has seen our strength."
While pointing out India’s stand against terror, he thanked some other countries for actively helping the India in the war against extremists.
In his address, Modi thanked these countries without naming them.
He came down heavily on those who have looted the nation and the poor and said that these people are now not able to sleep peacefully. Those who own "benami" properties are facing difficult times now, he pointed out.
"Soon after the Benami Act was implemented, the government has seized benami properties worth Rs 800 crore," he said.
He said his government had implemented the demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) for military personnel after it had been kept pending for 30-40 years.