Modi vows to turn India into developed country in next 25 years

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the 17th-century Mughal-era Red Fort on Independence Day (Pankaj Nangia/AP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to work with vigour to turn poverty-ridden India into a developed country in the next 25 years.

Wearing a flowing turban printed with small stripes of orange, white and green, Mr 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.