Triple talaq to federalism, clear path is laid out

Soon after coming to power, the political leitmotif of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was to take India into the 21st century. He used his first Independence Day address in 1985 unleashing promises and a vision for 21st century India. Thirty-two years later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined his own vision to build a New India by 2022, the 75th anniversary of Independence. An India that is secure, prosperous, strong, also provides equal opportunity to all and where science and technology play an important part.

Modi also silenced those who were demanding that he apologises for the deaths of children in Gorakhpur, saying 125 crore countrymen stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the families of the departed souls. Since the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency, so far represented by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, will be going to polls at some point in time, the Prime Minister chose his words well.

Armed with some 13,000 ideas he had received from members of the public through his MyGov portal, the Independence Day speech ranged defence and environment to security of women and education.

In the context of women’s empowerment, PM Modi raised the issue of ‘triple talaq’ and vowed to support Muslim women. Having been the chief minister …read more