2003 Independence Day: 'Indian economy 4th largest today'– Atal Bihari Vajpayee's last Aug 15 speech

As India prepares to celebrate Independence Day, Hindustan Times revisits Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Independence Day address from the Red Fort.

As India prepares to celebrate Independence Day, Hindustan Times continues its special series revisiting some of the most iconic Independence Day speeches delivered by the country's Prime Ministers. In the twelfth episode, we revisit Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Independence Day address from the Red Fort in 2003 — his last-ever August 15 speech as Prime Minister.

'Indian economy 4th largest today'– Atal Bihari Vajpayee's last Aug 15 speech

In his 2003 address, Vajpayee highlighted India's economic progress and said the country's economy had emerged as the world's fourth largest in purchasing power terms. He spoke about economic growth, development, poverty alleviation, employment and the need to ensure that the benefits of progress reached ordinary citizens.