New Delhi, August 15, 2017: In his shortest Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort that violence in the name of Astha was unacceptable in the country.

The PM sent a stern message to those indulging in and promoting the cult of violence as seen in a spate of incidents in the name of cow vigilantism. “India is about peace, unity and harmony. There is no place for casteism and communalism in it,” he said in the speech lasting 54 minutes.

During radio programme Mann Ki Baat last month, PM Modi had promised to a shorter speech not longer than 50 minutes on the basis of public feedback about his I-Day speeches becoming longer.

He had spoken for 94 minutes last year, 86 minutes in 2015 and 65 minutes in 2014 whereas his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh had stuck to 50-minute duration in his speeches as the PM, reported NDTV.

On the occasion of 71st Independence Day, the PM outlined a caste, corruption and violence-free vision of India by 2022 besides presenting report card of his government’s achievements. He talked about

He reiterated his government’s resolve to be always tough on terrorism. “there is no question of being soft on terrorism”, any “violence in the name of faith cannot be condoned,” an Indian Express report quoted him as saying.

Talking about Kashmir, he wanted its lost glory be restored. He repeated his message to the youth of Kashmir to join the mainstream while acknowledging their right to express themselves in a democratic way.

As it was keenly being expected, Modi also touched the recent shocking issue of deaths of 60 children in a government-run hospital at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. The spate of floods in North-Eastern India affecting thousands of people and vast properties also found mention in his speech.

He listed implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), demonetization and flagship schemes for farmers as major achievements of his government. He termed demonetization as an effective tool in fight against corruption and black money and ultimate resurgence of the country’s economy.