Modi praises India’s ‘prosperity and legacy’ in Independence Day speech

Narendra Modi promised to make India’s economy among the top three in the world within the next five years, as he marked 76 years of independence from British rule.

The prime minister addressed the country on Tuesday 15 August from New Delhi’s 17th-century Mughal-era Red Fort, saying his government had uplifted over 130 million people from poverty and that India’s growing prosperity was an opportunity for the world.

His statement comes after reports have forecast India’s economy to overtake Japan and Germany’s to become the world’s third-largest by 2030.

“We are lucky to have demography, democracy and diversity,” Mr Modi said.