India, July 11 -- The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday slammed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann without naming him for his statements implying that some of the countries Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited are insignificant.

Earlier in a press conference on Thursday, the Punjab chief minister said, "The Prime Minister has gone somewhere. I think it is Ghana. Oh, he will be back today? We will welcome him. God knows which countries he has been visiting: 'Magnesia', 'Galvesia', 'Tarvesia'. He is not staying in a country that has 140 crore people."

PM Modi has just wrapped up his five-nation tour, visiting Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia between July 2 and 9.

The visits were intended to strengthe...