Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pursues an independent policy in the interests of his people, moving in the right direction like an icebreaker, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, RIA Novosti reported.

"Prime Minister Modi is that person, one of those people in the world who is able to pursue an independent foreign policy in the interests of his people, despite any attempts to restrain something, to limit something. He is, you know, like an icebreaker, moving calmly in the right direction for the Indian state," Putin said at a plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club.