Devendra Fadnavis calls PM Modi a world leader but opposition parties pinned by his growing popularity

Maharashtra state deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a world leader and said his stature on the global stage has grown significantly, but criticised the opposition parties, alleging that they were pained by his growing popularity.

Speaking to reporters in Solapur, around 400 km from here, Fadnavis said although the opposition parties are coming together only to oppose PM Modi, people have faith in him. During the recently-held Quad Summit in Japan's Hiroshima, US President Joe Biden walked up to PM Modi and one of the points he made was the large number of requests he was getting from prominent citizens to attend the Indian leader's programmes during his next month state visit to Washington DC.

Biden even told Modi in a lighter vein that he should take his autograph, officials earlier said. Referring to it, Fadnavis said, Even the US president has said that he is struggling to issue passes for PM Modi's dinner as they are overwhelmed by the response of the Indian diaspora in the US. Biden even wants to take Modi's autograph. Modi is set to visit the US in June and one of the key events during his visit would be the dinner organised at the White House for which tickets are being issued.

Fadnavis sarcastically said, I am glad that Kejriwal is meeting Sharad Pawar. He had once used such words against him (Pawar) that I can not utter here. Similarly, his acidic remarks against Thackeray and Shiv Sena's commentary against him is widely known. The videos of those days are being circulated again.They all are coming together only to oppose PM Modi. But people have trust in Modi, which cannot be forgotten. Modi returned today from his foreign tour. The Australian PM called him boss; the countries like Papua New Guinea and Fiji bestowed their highest civilian awards on him, he said.