Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday 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."