Celebrating Republic Day with grandeur at Chhatrasal Stadium on Saturday, the event’s Chief Guest, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, unfurled the national flag on the eve of Republic Day, extending her greetings to the people of Delhi and the nation.
The Delhi Chief Minister highlighted her government’s transformative initiatives, including free electricity and water, significant investments in education and healthcare, and free travel for 11 lakh women daily, boosting their economic participation. She also emphasised uninterrupted 24×7 electricity and the construction of 38 flyovers in a decade as evidence of her government’s focus on infrastructure.
Reaffirming her government’s commitment, the Delhi Chief Minister called for empowering women and ensuring quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for all.
On this occasion, CM Atishi began her address with a heartfelt appeal to remember the sacrifices of those who fought for India’s independence.
“Today, let us pay tribute to our freedom fighters—the lakhs who gave their lives to secure India’s independence. It is also a day to honour Babasaheb Ambedkar, who gave us the Indian Constitution after independence. These heroes dreamt of a free India built on equality, dignity, and rights for every citizen. They sacrificed everything to make that vision a reality,” she said.
The Delhi Chief Minister painted a vivid picture of the nation during British rule, reflecting on its very different state. “Under British rule, India was unrecognisable. Its people were stripped of their rights, unable to elect their representatives, silenced without freedom of speech, and cut off from the nation’s resources. For thousands of years, India was hailed as the ‘golden bird,’ abundant with fertile lands, vast forests, and majestic mountains. But the British exploited these resources for their own gain, leaving Indians without access to quality education, healthcare, or employment,” she explained.
The CM Atishi highlighted the courage and sacrifices of the youth during the freedom struggle, adding, “Think of the young men and women—just 18, 20, or 25 years old—who left everything behind to fight for independence. They stood against the British Empire, a global force so vast it was said the sun never set on it. Yet, their courage was unwavering. Their determination and dream of a free India drove them forward, despite the odds. Even today, their sacrifices evoke deep emotion and inspire us all.”
She paid special tribute to revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh. “Take Bhagat Singh, for instance—a 23-year-old who embraced martyrdom with a smile for the sake of India’s freedom. He didn’t think of his personal future or family; he thought only of the nation. And there were thousands more like him—young people who could have pursued education or careers but chose instead to dedicate their lives to the country,” she said.
CM Atishi underscored how the immense sacrifices of freedom fighters laid the foundation for an India where its people could live with dignity and access the nation’s resources for collective welfare.
“They gave their lives so that every citizen could hold their head high. Their sacrifices ensured that India’s resources would benefit its children, youth, women, and elders—for all of us. Their dream was of an independent India that would thrive on these principles,” she stated.
She then reflected on the transformative vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly. “When India became a democracy, Babasaheb Ambedkar and our Constitution-makers dreamed of a nation where every child would receive quality education, no family would suffer inequality, and every citizen would have a stake in democracy. They envisioned a country free from divisions—no rich or poor, no high or low—just equality for all,” she added.
CM Atishi continued with a call to action, stressing that this vision remains the cornerstone of the Delhi government’s efforts. “It is our solemn duty to honour their sacrifices. Fulfilling Babasaheb’s dream and the vision of our freedom fighters is our responsibility. Thousands gave their lives, many of whom remain unnamed. We owe it to them to create a free, equal, and empowered India. Together, we must realise their dream,” she said, resonating with the audience on this significant occasion.
Highlighting the transformation in Delhi’s education system, she said, “There was a time when children from poor families studying in government schools had no access to quality education. Government schools operated in dilapidated buildings; children sat on tattered mats, and basic amenities like clean drinking water were missing. Poor families’ children didn’t receive the opportunities they deserved, leading to cycles of poverty.”
The Delhi Chief Minister stated, “This was not the dream of our freedom fighters or Babasaheb Ambedkar. To break this cycle, the Delhi Government brought transformative changes in education. We built modern school buildings, provided quality desks, introduced computer labs, and sent teachers abroad for training.”
“Today, I am proud to say that Delhi is the only state government that spends 25% of its budget on children’s education and their future. We are working towards realising their dream and today, children coming from downtrodden households are entering IIT-AIIMS after studying in Delhi’s government school,” she asserted.
CM Atishi shared an inspiring story to illustrate this transformation. “A few days ago, I met a young girl named Shimpy. She comes from a humble family—her father works in a small factory. But thanks to quality education and opportunities, she is now pursuing chemical engineering at IIT Guwahati. A factory worker’s daughter is on her way to becoming a manager, a CEO, and a trailblazer. She will make her family and our country proud.”
“This is Babasaheb’s dream in action. When children from government schools secure good jobs, the government doesn’t need to fight poverty—it naturally disappears,” she affirmed.
CM Atishi added “Our freedom fighters dreamed of an India where no one would have to choose between saving a loved one’s life and keeping their home or land. Yet, many still face this heartbreaking dilemma. This is why the Delhi government has made quality healthcare free for all. Whether the treatment costs Rs 5,000 or Rs 5 lakh, no Delhi resident pays a single rupee—the government bears the entire cost. We have established Mohalla Clinics in every neighbourhood.”
On infrastructure, she said, “Delhi stands as a model for uninterrupted 24-hour electricity, even during this year’s record-breaking heat waves when power grids failed across the country. Reliable electricity allows children to study, families to live with dignity, and our economy to grow.”
She added that when every home has electricity, every member of that family can progress. The Delhi government fulfilled this dream. Over the last ten years, not just the power infrastructure, but Delhi’s roads, flyovers, metro, and buses have seen rapid development.
The Chief Minister highlighted, “In the past decade, 38 flyovers have been constructed across Delhi—whether it’s in Punjabi Bagh, Anand Vihar, Ashram, Signature Bridge, or Wazirabad. These have accelerated Delhi’s economy. The metro network has expanded to 450 kilometres, connecting every corner of Delhi. Today, someone living in one corner of Delhi can easily commute to the other for work or education.”
She further added that economists across the world agree that a nation’s economy progresses when its women progress. To empower Delhi’s women, we provided quality education in government schools. But we noticed that only 11% of women in Delhi stepped out of their homes for work. To improve women’s participation in the economy, we made bus travel free for them five years ago.
“Today, our daughters no longer worry about bus fares while travelling to college. Women going to work do not have to think about how their earnings will be affected by commuting costs. I take pride in saying that every day, 11 lakh women travel for free in Delhi’s buses. Girls attend schools and colleges, women run businesses, and many go to jobs. In the last five years, women have availed free bus travel more than 150 crore times,” the Delhi CM emphasised.
CM Atishi stated that these efforts—whether in education, health, flyovers, 24-hour electricity, or free bus travel—are visible in Delhi’s development and its economy. Delhi’s GDP has doubled from Rs 5 lakh crore to Rs 11 lakh crore in just ten years. I don’t think there is any other state in the country where the economy has grown so much in such a short span. Delhi is the only state where per capita income is over Rs 4 lakh, which is 2.5 times the national average.
“This progress in Delhi reflects the dreams of our freedom fighters and Babasaheb Ambedkar. The people of Delhi wrote this story of development—every child, every youth, every woman, every senior citizen, every doctor, teacher, and engineer contributed to this. They could achieve this because our country is a democracy, because Babasaheb Ambedkar gave us the right to vote and choose our government,” she asserted.
CM Atishi highlighted, “However, this story of Delhi’s development is far from over. We, the people of Delhi, must take a pledge to elevate our city further. We must empower every woman in Delhi so she never has to depend on anyone financially. We must ensure that every young person studying in Delhi gets a job. Every senior citizen must receive the best medical care.”
”On this Republic Day, as we celebrate the 76th year of our republic, we must unite as Delhiites to uphold Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution and fulfil the dreams of our freedom fighters. Through democracy, through our rights, we will carry Delhi forward. I am confident that just as Delhi has witnessed immense progress in the past decade, the coming years will see even greater achievements,” said the Delhi Chief Minister.
“Together, we will secure a bright future for our children, empower our women, and care for our elderly,” CM Atishi stated, wishing Happy Republic Day to the people of Delhi.
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