Trying to tear him down: Ex-Serbian president flags bid to undermine PM Modi

Former Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic asserted that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi "raising India to the heavens" and turning it into a force on the global stage, attempts were being made to undermine him. A clip of Vucic's remarks from a podcast went viral on Wednesday as PM Modi marked 25 years of service as head of government.

Vucic, who stepped down as Serbian president last month to run for the parliamentary elections, pointed towards what he called a global trend of attempts to undermine leaders. Singling out PM Modi, Vucic said he made India a major global power and "accomplished huge things".

'EFFORT TO UNDERMINE PM MODI'

"You have a leader like Narendra Modi. And now there is an effort to undermine him. PM Modi has raised India to the heavens. He tries to follow the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi," Vucic said.

"India became so important on the world stage because of him. Became a force. He has done tremendous things, yet they try to tear him down by claiming he failed or don't know what. It has become a pattern," he further said.

Vucic, however, did not elaborate on who was behind the efforts to "tear him down" or how PM Modi was allegedly being undermined.

The BJP was quick to seize on the former Serbian president's remarks, projecting them as an endorsement of PM Modi's leadership.

"When world leaders speak like this about our Prime Minister, it says everything. India under PM Modi is rising, and the world is taking notice," the BJP tweeted.

It was also amplified by BJP leaders and spokespersons. "Serbian President talks about attempts to create instability and undermine the popular mandate given by India's electorate to PM Modi," party national spokesperson Sanju Verma tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Vucic, who has previously spoken warmly about India's ties with Serbia and Modi's leadership, wished the Prime Minister on X.

"Few people can say they have devoted a quarter of a century to serving their country, first as CM of Gujarat and then as Prime Minister," he said.

"I know how deeply you care about India and its future, and the world can see how high you have raised India," Vucic further stressed.

In June, the former Serbian president was among the first leaders to congratulate Modi on becoming the longest-serving elected PM.

The two leaders also held a bilateral meeting earlier this year in February on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit. During their meeting, they decided to deepen cooperation in defence and manufacturing.

It was their second meeting after Vucic attended the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in 2017.

WHAT PM SAID ON 25 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE?

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Prime Minister urged Indians to adopt a "we will do it" attitude as he reiterated his 'Viksit Bharat' call.

The Prime Minister gave the call as he marked 25 years of his holding of public office - a journey that began when he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001.

To realise the goal of a developed India by 2047, PM Modi listed four key goals. These include making India one of the world's top three economies, turning the country into a self-reliant global manufacturing hub, positioning it as a contender to host the Olympics, and expanding India's presence in space.

"Viksit Bharat by 2047, we will do it; hosting the Olympics, we will do it; setting foot in space, we will do it," PM Modi said.

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