PM Modi Counters Donald Trump’s ‘Dead Economy’ Remark, Saying “India is on Path to Reform, Perform and Transform”

Close on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s brickbat terming India as a “dead economy”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a foundation stone ceremony on August 10, 2025 Sunday reacted saying, “India is on track towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy propelled by the current government’s thrust on “reform, perform and transform”.

Addressing the foundation stone ceremony for Bangalore Metro Phase-3, the Prime Minister said that India’s economy is now at the top five globally, up from 10th position and now is on a course to join the top three.

Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for Bangalore Metro Phase-3 Rail Project worth over Rs. 15,610 crore on Sunday. Besides, the PM also flagged off three Vande Bharat Express train and inaugurated the Metro Rail Yellow line.

While outlining India’s growth across sectors on the back of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) backed by “clear intention and honest efforts”, the PM said, “We are moving fast to become one of the top three economies of the world. How we got this speed? We got it through the spirit of reform, perform and transform”.

As far as development of infrastructure is concerned, the PM said, “Metro rail services now cover over 1,000 km across 24 Indian cities, which is competing at third-largest network globally”. Earlier metro services were limited to five cities in 2014, he added.

PM Modi on electrification of the railways said it is 2 times of 20,000 km as on 2014 to 40,000 km in the current year 2025.

Highlighting the aviation sector, he said, “India has moved from 74 to more than 160 airports”, adding national waterways have gone up from 3 to 30.

“Till 2014, there were 7 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and 387 medical colleges. It has now gone up to 22 AIIMS and 704 medical colleges, that are serving the people”, Hindustan Times quoted PM Modi as saying.

India’s rapid progress is now being taken forward by the transforming lives of the poor and marginalised, the PM noted, adding, “The country’s next big priority should be self-reliance in technology driven by tech companies which have gained global recognition for software and products worldwide”.

Highlighting India’s export, PM Modi said it has doubled from USD 468 billion in 2014 to USD 824 billion as of date. “India is the fourth-largest automobile exporter globally now, the export of automobiles have more than doubled”, he added.

“We used to import mobile phones but now we are the top five exporters of mobile handsets. Our electronic export before 2014 was USD 6 billion which has gone up to USD 38 billion”, adding, “These achievements give strength to our concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat. We will march together, and build a developed India”, HT added the PM as saying.