Prime Minister's 70th Independence Day Speech: Fact Check

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat, on the occasion of 70th Independence Day, in Delhi on August 15, 2016.[/caption]

IndiaSpend/FactChecker did a live fact check on the claims made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his independence-day speech at Red Fort on August 15, 2016. The main facts, checked and storified:

#IndependenceDayIndia PM Modi speech pic.twitter.com/027P4UjB4E

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

#IndependenceDayIndia PM Modi speech pic.twitter.com/4GJTsNmHKn

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

#IndependenceDayIndia PM Modi speech pic.twitter.com/rxMF5tIEV1

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY) was launched on August 15, 2015, and balance in the accounts increased 85% over one year, from Rs 22,033 crore to Rs 40,795 crore, IndiaSpend reported on August 13, 2016.

#IndependenceDayIndia PM Modi speech pic.twitter.com/J5nofCGC47

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

#IndependenceDayIndia PM Modi speech pic.twitter.com/VFe146QzID

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

Air India has made operating profit: PM. But total loss is $7.3 billion = India’s health spend; debt $6.3 billion. https://t.co/9dHjvqi1e8

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

#IndependenceDayIndia PM Modi speech pic.twitter.com/j2PrmhijyP

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

#IndependenceDayIndia PM Modi speech pic.twitter.com/ZttB30jYO9

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

#IndependenceDayIndia PM Modi speech pic.twitter.com/UOd3MaSyPp

— Fact Check India (@FactCheckIndia) August 15, 2016

The Prime Minister also announced a scheme to provide Rs 1 lakh per poor person for healthcare. As many as 39 millon poor people are pushed into poverty due to healthcare expenses, IndiaSpend reported on February 26, 2016.