Archive · 15 Aug 2026
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.
Former Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur recalled that PM Modi had the bulletproof glass shield removed before his first Independence Day address in 2014.
Modi told security officials he could not address the citizens with the bulletproof shield in front of him.
Security officials urged him to reconsider because the Chandni Chowk area and its many buildings are visible from the Red Fort.
The glass shield was removed around 2 a.m. on the night of August 14-15, 2014.
Modi again broke protocol this year by meeting schoolchildren, NCC cadets, and 'My Bharat' volunteers after the 80th Independence Day address.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur
- What
- Modi had the bulletproof glass removed before his first Independence Day address in 2014, a decision later recalled by Mathur
- When
- The shield was removed around 2 a.m. on the night of August 14-15, 2014; the recall came around the 80th Independence Day celebrations
- Where
- Red Fort, New Delhi
- Why
- Modi said he would not be able to address the nation with the bulletproof shield in front of him
Security Officials
PM Modi
Removal of the bulletproof glass shield
Security Officials
Security officials, including Mathur and the Director of Intelligence Bureau, urged Modi to rethink the decision, calling the shield a necessary security measure given the visible buildings of Chandni Chowk.
PM Modi
Modi insisted the shield be removed, saying he could not address the citizens with it in front of him, and refused to speak if it stayed.
- Prime Minister
- Narendra Modi
- Former Defence Secretary
- R.K. Mathur
- Event
- Removal of bulletproof glass before the 2014 Independence Day speech
- Removal time
- Around 2 a.m., night of August 14-15, 2014
- Location
- Red Fort, New Delhi
- Security concern
- Chandni Chowk area and surrounding buildings visible from the Red Fort
- Current occasion
- 80th Independence Day celebrations
- Other attendees
- Schoolchildren, NCC cadets, and 'My Bharat' volunteers