Goa, Aug. 2 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday delivered a strong yet indirect response to former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks branding India's economy as "dead." Speaking at a public rally in Varanasi, Modi emphasized that India is on track to become the world's third-largest economy and must stay vigilant in safeguarding its interests amid global instability.

"India is set to become the third biggest economy in the world. That's why we need to stay alert about our economic interests," said Modi, without naming Trump.

Trump had recently announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports and criticized India's trade with Russia, claiming that the Indian economy had "tanked" and relied heavily on American markets.

In a sp...