Narendra Modi turns 74: Here are some of his most notable speeches and addresses

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great orator, and his speeches addressing 'mitron' and 'deshwasiyon' have the power to captivate any audience, be it at a political rally or when he is addressing the nation. Here is a look at some of his most memorable such moments.

2016 demonetisation announcement

On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a televised address to the nation at 8:00 pm, telling the countrymen that Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, which accounted for more than 85 percent of total currency notes in circulation, would cease to be legal tender from midnight. He also announced that the government was rolling out new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes.

Modi's 2016 New Year's Eve speech

A little over a month after his surprise demonetisation announcement, PM Modi addressed the nation on the eve of December 31. Given the magnitude of his previous address, many felt that some major announcements would be made. But this was not the case that evening, and Modi merely touched upon demonetisation among several other topics.

'May the force be with you'

In his first visit to the US as Indian Prime Minister, Modi addressed a crowd of 60,000, gathered for the "Global Citizen Festival" at New York's Central Park. Modi, who was introduced by *X-Men* actor Hugh Jackman, started his speech with a 'Namaste' and concluded it by saying, "May the Force be with you."

‘Abki baar, Trump sarkar’

In September 2019, PM Modi, who was on an official visit to the US, addressed a gathering of Indian-Americans along with Donald Trump, who was seeking re-election in 2020. "The words of candidate Trump: 'Abki baar Trump sarkar' rang loud and clear," Modi told the gathering.

Lockdown announcement

On the evening of March 24, 2020, when COVID-19 cases started rapidly increasing across India, Prime Minister Modi called for a complete lockdown of the entire nation for 21 days to contain the pandemic.??

"This is the time for patience and discipline. Until the lockdown situation remains, we must keep our resolve, we must keep our promise,” Modi had said.

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