India, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation after hoisting the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi on the 80th Independence Day.

PM Modi began his speech by remembering the "ultimate sacrifice" of the "great sons and daughters" in the freedom struggle. "With freedom as the sole objective, they devoted their entire lives to sacrifice and struggle," he said.

He went to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and said, "I respectfully salute revered Bapu and all the freedom fighters, as well as the great revolutionaries who inspired this glorious tradition of sacrifice."

This year's event marked 150 years of 'Vande Mataram', with the National Song rendered during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the ...