Symbol of colonialism 'Kingsway' has been erased from history forever: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that symbol of colonialism 'Kingsway' has been erased forever from history today and a new era in the form of Kartvyapath has begun, after the inaugural of the newly- redeveloped stretch between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate.

"Rajpath was for the British for whom the people of India were slaves. It was a symbol of colonialism. Now, its architecture has changed, and its spirit has also changed," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi also paid rich tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, whose 28-feet-tall statue was also inaugurated by him at the India Gate.


"In the last 8 years, we have taken several decisions which had the imprints of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He was the first head of 'Akhand Bharat' who unfurled the national flag in the Andaman & Nicobar islands," PM Modi said.

"During British rule, a statue of a representative of the Britishers stood here. With installation of statue of Netaji, we've established a new path for an empowered India.

"If India had followed path shown by Subhas Chandra Bose, then country would have reached a new high; sadly he was forgotten," he further said.

Talking about his government policies, the PM said that the country has repealed various outdated laws that were there since the time of the British.

"Through the National Education Policy, now the youth of the country are being liberated from the compulsion of foreign language," he said.

In a sweet gesture, the prime minister also invited the workers involved in redevelopment work of Central Vista avenue to the Republic Day celebrations.

The revamped stretch is part of the Modi government's ambitious Central Vista redevelopment project, which also envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat, a new prime minister's residence and office, and a new vice-president's enclave.