Anurag Thakur Marks PM Modi's 13th Red Fort Flag-Hoisting
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur hailed PM Narendra Modi's 13th consecutive flag-hoisting at Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day, 15 August 2026 — marking an unbroken annual tradition that began when Modi took office in 2014.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at Red Fort for the 13th consecutive time on 15 August 2026 .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur (Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh) shared the moment on X, calling it a landmark occasion.
The Red Fort flag-hoisting is an unbroken tradition since 1947 , when India gained independence.
Modi's streak runs continuously from his first flag-hoisting in 2014 , the year he took office as Prime Minister.
India's 80th Independence Day marks eight decades since the 1947 transfer of power.
The Prime Minister's Independence Day address is traditionally used to announce schemes and set national priorities for the year ahead.
A milestone wrapped in the tricolour: BJP MP Anurag Thakur took to X on 15 August 2026 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 13th consecutive flag-hoisting at the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day — a streak that began the moment Modi first ascended the ramparts in 2014.
Thakur's post, shared as the tricolour rose over the 17th-century Mughal monument in Old Delhi, noted the occasion with reverence: 'आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी के कर-कमलों से लाल किले से 13वीं बार ध्वजारोहण' — 'the 13th flag-hoisting from the Red Fort by the revered hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.'
Thirteen Years on the Ramparts of Red Fort
Since 1947, the Red Fort has been the stage for India's most watched annual ritual — the Prime Minister's flag-hoisting and address to the nation. Every leader who has held the office has stood on those sandstone battlements on 15 August, and Modi, since taking charge in May 2014, has done so without interruption. The 13th edition cements what is now the longest unbroken run by a sitting Prime Minister in the post-liberalisation era.Why the Count Matters
In Indian political culture, the Independence Day address is not merely ceremonial — it is the Prime Minister's most direct annual broadcast to the nation, watched live by hundreds of millions. Successive governments have used the occasion to unveil flagship schemes, set the tone for the year ahead, and project a vision of India's place in the world. Each flag-hoisting, in that sense, is both a symbol and a policy moment. The 80th Independence Day carries its own weight: eight decades since the midnight transfer of power in 1947, a milestone that frames every word spoken from the ramparts. For Anurag Thakur — Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, and a former Union Minister — the post is an act of institutional pride as much as political solidarity, marking a moment his party and its leader have now made their own thirteen times over. The themes and specific announcements of PM Modi's address from the Red Fort will define what this particular Independence Day is remembered for — and India is watching.Point of View
An unbroken 13-year run at Red Fort signals both electoral durability and institutional continuity. For the BJP, Independence Day has become a platform to reinforce the Modi-as-nation-builder narrative, and Thakur's post — amplifying the count rather than just the occasion — reflects a deliberate effort to frame longevity itself as an achievement. The 80th Independence Day also invites comparison with India's founding generation, raising the rhetorical stakes of whatever the Prime Minister chooses to announce from the ramparts.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has PM Modi hoisted the flag at Red Fort?
PM Narendra Modi has hoisted the national flag at Red Fort on 13 consecutive Independence Days , starting from 2014 when he first took office as Prime Minister.
What is the significance of the Red Fort on Independence Day?
The Red Fort in Old Delhi has been the venue for India's Prime Minister's annual flag-hoisting and national address every 15 August since independence in 1947 , making it the country's most iconic ceremonial site.
What did Anurag Thakur post on Independence Day 2026?
BJP MP Anurag Thakur posted on X to mark PM Modi 's 13th flag-hoisting at Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day , 15 August 2026 , describing it as a moment of national pride.
Why is the 80th Independence Day significant?
The 80th Independence Day on 15 August 2026 marks eight full decades since India gained independence from British rule in 1947 , making it a milestone year for national reflection and celebration.
Who is Anurag Thakur?
Anurag Thakur is a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh , and a former Union Minister who held the portfolios of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports.
