New Delhi, Aug. 15 : Following is the first part of the text of Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh''s address from the Red Fort on the occasion

of the nation''s 62nd Independence Day:

My dear countrymen, brothers, sisters and my dear children.

Greetings to all of you on this happy occasion of our Independence Day.

This is a sacred day for every Indian.

Today we remember the sacrifice of those who under the leadership of

Mahatma Gandhi fought for our freedom from foreign rule.

Today we remember the hard work and dedication of all those who have

toiled to build a free and modern India. And we re-dedicate ourselves to

that cause.

We remember our farmers, our workers and our teachers. We

remember our soldiers - who defend our borders in snowy mountains, in

deserts,

in jungles, on the shores and in the oceans.

Brothers and Sisters,

Four years ago, on this day, I stood here before you and spoke to you

about our government''s new vision for a new India.

I said to you that it is our desire to build an India that is just and humane; 

an India that treats all its citizens as equals; an India that is prosperous; 

an India that lives in peace; an India in which everyone can find work suited to his or her talent and can work for his or her brighter future.

An India that is secular, that is fair and just to all its people. An India

united in its diversity.

It has been our sincere endeavour to work for the building of such an

India. (ANI)