India PM Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday hoisted the tricolour at the Red Fort on Independence Day.

On the occasion of Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted all those who sacrificed their lives during the freedom struggle.

"I salute all those who sacrificed themselves for India's freedom," Modi said while addressing the nation from the Red Fort here.

"The struggle for freedom went on for years, generations sacrificed their lives even at the prime of their youth."

Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi said the country's head hangs in shame whenever there is news about rape.

"Our heads hang in shame when we hear news about rape," Modi said while delivering his maiden address from the Red Fort on India's 68th Independence Day.

He also asked parents to question their sons about the malaise.

"After all, a person raping is someone's son. As parents, has anyone asked our sons, where is he going? Why not put the same yardstick for sons too," he added.

Prime Minister Modi reached out to global investors Friday, asking them to come and manufacture goods in India, while calling for zero-defect products with zero-effect on environment.

"I tell the world, 'Make in India'," Modi said in his maiden address from the Red Fort. "Sell anywhere but manufacture here. We have the skill and talent for it."

The prime minister said Indian enterprise must come together to think of ways by which the country does not have to import goods, but export to the world.

In this regard, he laid emphasis on IT and related industry, and said the country must come to be regarded as "Digital India" and benefit from the manufacture of electronics instead of imports.

He said information technology joins Indians today like the railways had been in the past. "Digital India will also enable us to compete with the world," he said.

"Our dreams should be that all over the world we can say 'Made in India'," he added.

At the same time, he said manufacturing industry must also be responsible.

"Let us think about zero defect -- our products are not defective and our products have zero effect on the environment."

Modi urged SAARC countries to come together to fight poverty in the region.

"Can we not remove poverty? Can we not wage war against poverty?" Modi asked during his address to the nation on Independence Day.

He said, "Why don't we SAARC countries decide to fight against poverty together."

"The strength of the saviour is much more than the strength of the person who kills. Lets unite to fight poverty," the prime minister said adding: "Can we not wage a war and emerge victorious against poverty. Let us defeat poverty."

Modi praised all his predecessors and previous governments for contributing to India's development.

"All prime ministers, previous governments have contributed (to develop the country)," Modi said in his maiden Independence Day address from the Red Fort here.

"All governments in the states have also contributed. I offer my respects to them."

Modi went on: "Let us walk together, think together, and make a determination to take ahead the nation together."

The prime minister underlined the need for national consensus.

"We are not those who want to move ahead on the basis of our mandate," he said, in a clear reference to the BJP's parliamentary majority. "We want to walk together with consensus."