India, July 7 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday heaped big praise on former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik for his role in rescuing Indonesian leadership from Dutch-controlled Java during the country's independence struggle.

Addressing the Indonesian parliament in Jakarta, Modi pointed out that Patnaik, who was a pilot, safely brought the country's then-Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and Vice President Mohammad Hatta to India, saying it brought New Delhi and Indonesia "closer".

"Both our nations gained independence around the same time: Indonesia in 1945 and India in 1947. When it came to sovereignty as independent nations, India became a strong voice in support of Indonesia's independence movement at the United Nations. The ...