Modi pledges to make India a developed country in 25 years on partition anniversary - The Guardian

The Indian ‘prime minister, Narendra Modi, has pledged to turn India into a developed country within the next 25 years.

Wearing a flowing, cream-coloured turban with stripes of orange, white and green, the colours of the Indian flag, Modi addressed the country from New Delhi’s 17th-century Mughal-era Red Fort to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s independence from British rule.

Modi said the world’s view of India was changing and it was looking to the country to help resolve global issues.

Modi said millions of people across the country were commemorating the 75th anniversary of independence by hoisting orange, white and green national flags at their homes and businesses for three days as part of a government campaign “of awakening the spirit of patriotism in every heart”.

“There were special functions in parliament’s historic Central Hall to mark the 25th, 50th and 60th anniversary of India’s independence,” said Jairam Ramesh, an India National Congress party spokesperson.

“Sadly, nothing like that has been organised for the 75th anniversary, which has been reduced to an occasion to glorify the Sarvagyaani,” using a term meaning “a person who knows all” in reference to Modi.