'PM Modi Wise Man...': Putin Praises Indian Leadership's 'Independent' Stand Against 'Western Elites'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “very wise man” and India has become stronger under his leadership. He slammed the West for trying to cast as an enemy those who are unwilling to follow their lead and praised India for being self-directed and “acting independently”.

According to a video shared by news agency PTI, Putin said the western elites have created an image of an enemy out of those unwilling to follow them including the People’s Republic of China and, at a certain point, tried this with India as well. But the Indian leadership, he said, acted independently and in the interest of their nation.

“They are trying to create an image of an enemy out of everyone who is unwilling to blindly follow the western elites. Anyone is at risk, including the People’s Republic of China, and at a certain point, they tried to do the same with India. Let me tell you that the Indian leadership is acting independently in the interests of its nation,” Putin said at an event in Moscow.

The Russian leader hailed India’s high-tech exports, which are growing exponentially under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He said the international law needs to adapt to current needs and changing global situation, saying India deserves representation and an opportunity to resolving global issues as it has substantial influence with a GDP growth rate of 7 percent.

“I believe we should adapt international law to current needs and changing global situations. Countries with substantial influence in international affairs, like India with its 1.5 billion people and over 7% GDP growth, deserve representation and the opportunity to contribute to resolving global issues”, Putin was quoted as saying.

Putin and Modi are known to share a decent relationship and have spoken to each other over the phone on important occasions, especially with regard to the Ukraine war. The prime minister’s words to the president on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — “this is not an era of war” — have had a resounding effect at a global stage.

Russia and India share strong bilateral ties and Putin expressed for further cooperation in the field of financial security and the fight against cybercrime. “We share very good political relations with Prime Minister Modi, he is a very wise man. And India has been making very great strides in development under his leadership. This fully meets the interest of both India and Russia to work on this agenda,” Putin was quoted as saying in a video shared by RT News.