Ex-Defence Secretary Recalls PM Modi's Bulletproof Glass Removal in 2014

Every year on August 15, the leader of India gives a speech from a big, old fort called the Red Fort.

Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his very first speech there in 2014, guards put a special clear shield in front of him.

That shield was made of bulletproof glass to keep him safe.

Mr. Modi said he did not want the shield, because he wanted to talk to the people without anything in the way.

His safety team was worried, because from the fort you can see many buildings in a busy area called Chandni Chowk.

But Mr. Modi insisted, so workers took the glass away very late at night, around 2 a.m., just before the speech.

Years later, a former security official named R.K. Mathur told this story to people.

This year, after his speech, Mr. Modi again surprised everyone by going to meet children and volunteers at the fort.

A little girl's hat fell off when she greeted him, and Mr. Modi kindly picked it up and put it back on her head.