Empty chair at Red Fort speaks volumes as PM Modi addresses the nation.

Mallikarjun Kharge stayed away and sent out a recorded message

New Delhi:

PM Modi Addresses Nation on Independence Day, Mallikarjun Kharge Sends Recorded Message

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on its 77th Independence Day today, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stayed away and sent out a strong recorded message highlighting the contributions of past Prime Ministers.

In his video message, Mr Kharge paid tribute to freedom icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Maulana Azad, Rajendra Prasad, Sarojini Naidu and BR Ambedkar.

He also highlighted the contributions of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and other Congress PMs like Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. He also mentioned BJP icon Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“Every Prime Minister has contributed to the progress of the nation. Today some people try to say that India has seen progress only in the past few years,” the Congress president said, in an apparent swipe at PM Modi.

Mr Kharge listed the creation of Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, AIIMS, and space research as examples of the contributions made by past Prime Ministers.

The policies of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi helped India become self-reliant, he said, using one of PM Modi’s key mantras.

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also extended his wishes on Independence Day and called Bharat Mata the voice of every Indian.