The Air Force band played the National Anthem during the unfurling of the flag, the hoisting of which was synchronized with a 21-gun salute fired by the ceremonial battery.

In his address to the nation, Modi said there was no era under the foreign domain as sons and daughters of India had not fought for their independence, and also expressed his gratitude to great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Earlier, the prime minister paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at Raj Ghat Memorial, while expressing his country’s gratitude to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Ramprasad Bismil, Rani Laxmi Bai and all other freedom fighters who shook the foundations of the British Empire.

Modi stated that India is moving forward despite present challenges, and its people have the strength coming from their diversity and the common thread of patriotism that makes India an unbreakable nation.

pll/iff/jf/abm

jf/abm