‘I won’t speak if bullet proof glass is not removed’; former defence secretary recalls Modi’s Independence Day in 2014 

NEW DELHI: Former defence secretary R K Mathur recalled the Independence Day after Narendra Modi first became the Prime Minister in 2014. Mathur revealed that the Prime Minister had insisted on removing the bulletproof glass installed at the Red Fort ahead of his Independence Day speech. Modi had demanded the removal of the bulletproof glass despite opposition from security officials.

Mathur and the then intelligence bureau director explained to Modi the security arrangements made at the Red Fort ahead of the Independence Day. The officials explained that as part of security, the speech should have to be delivered from behind the bulletproof glass. However, Modi demanded that if spoken like that, he will not be able to address the people while delivering the speech.

Despite officials pointing that removing the glass would pose security problems, Modi did not give in. The Prime Minister's stance was that he would not deliver the speech unless the bulletproof glass was removed. Finally, at around 2 am on August 14, the security officials removed the glass.