Bhubaneswar, March 14 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Indian National Congress of acting as a "puppet" of global forces that, he alleged, are uncomfortable with India's rapid development.

Addressing a public gathering in Silchar, Modi said some international forces are unable to accept India's growing economic and global stature and claimed that the Congress is increasingly influenced by such elements.

"The forces across the globe that are unable to digest India's rapid development-the Congress is increasingly becoming a mere puppet in the hands of these very forces," the Prime Minister said.

He also accused the opposition party of attempting to create panic in the country at a time when global tensions and war-li...