Indian economy set to be third-largest: PM counters US President’s ‘dead’ jibe

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India was on course to becoming the world’s third-largest economy and on the policy front, national interest was paramount.

Speaking publicly for the first time since US President Donald Trump called the Indian economy “dead” and slapped 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on imports starting August 7, Modi said the country’s economy was robust.

“The global economy is currently facing multiple uncertainties. In such a scenario, nations across the world are focusing on their own interests. India is on the path to becoming the world’s third-largest economy. Therefore, we must remain vigilant about our economic interest. The welfare of farmers and small industries is paramount and the government is making every possible effort in this direction,” he said. The remarks came at a time when the India-US trade talks are believed to be stuck due to the government’s insistence on protecting the farm sector.

Addressing a gathering after unveiling development projects worth Rs 2,200 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, also the seat of Kashi Vishwanath temple, Modi said India’s enemies would not survive even in hell. He further asked everyone to take a pledge of “swadeshi”.

The PM hailed the success of Operation Sindoor, which he dedicated to Lord Shiva and attacked the Congress for calling the mission a “tamasha” (spectacle). The reference was to Congress MP Parineeti Shinde’s remarks in the Lok Sabha during the debate on Operation Sindoor. “Can anyone call Operation Sindoor a ‘tamasha’,” he asked, attacking the Congress and opposition Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. He said the opposition leaders were ill at ease following the operation’s success.

“The Congress, its minions and friends are unable to digest that India destroyed Pakistan’s terror hubs. I want to ask my masters in Kashi—are you not proud of India’s strength, Operation Sindoor and the fact that our forces destroyed terror hubs in Pakistan,” Modi asked the gathering, which answered with an applause.

He said Made-in-India weapons had demonstrated their power to the world during Operation Sindoor, the military response to Pakistan-sponsored April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. “Several Pakistan air bases are still lying damaged. The patrons of terrorists are crying in Pakistan and here in India, the Congress and the SP are crying looking at the state of these terrorists. The Congress is constantly insulting the bravery of our forces and called Operation Sindoor a ‘tamasha’,” he said.

Modi said the SP was also not far behind in appeasement politics. “The SP asked why the terrorists were killed now. So, should I have phoned them and asked whether to kill or not? Should we have waited for them to escape,” the PM asked.

Meanwhile, PM Modi today also released the 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi from Varanasi, transferring via DBT Rs 20,500 crore to the country’s 9.7 crore farmers.