The Russian Ambassador in New Delhi extended his wishes to Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of his 75th birthday on Wednesday.
"We are grateful for his invaluable contribution in taking the decades-old friendship between Russia and India to new heights. May he continue to succeed in every endeavor for the welfare of the country and the world," Alipov wrote in a social media post.
Since 2022, Russia has emerged as the biggest crude supplier to India, accounting for around 30-40% of India's domestic oil needs. India has refused to buckle under US and European Union (EU) pressure to scale down its energy imports from Moscow, with Prime Minister Modi having thanked President Vladimir Putin last July for helping India address its needs in '3F'- fuel, food and fertiliser.
Modi has been serving as Prime Minister of India since 2014, now in his third consecutive term.