Sending a resounding message to the country in the face of Washington's tariff and penalty policies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that India is "unstoppable" and asked the country to capitalize on this moment to demonstrate its potential in international trade by means of quality products.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, Mr. Modi assured that the government would protect the interests of farmers and oppose any policies that would hurt them. His statement comes amid growing trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington after the US decided to increase duties on Indian products to 50 percent.
This is the moment to write history. We must dominate the world market. We must reduce the cost of production. It is time to test our strength in international markets with quality goods," the Prime Minister said in his speech.
He asked the people to follow the slogan of "Daam Kam, Dum Zyada" — providing products at low prices without diluting quality. "Economic selfishness is on the increase. Don't care about the other country. It is time to go forward and fulfill our targets," he further added.
Appealing for a mass vow to construct a samarth Bharat (strong India), Mr. Modi brought in the analogy with the freedom fighters' vision of an independent country. "We should not squander our energy in belittling others, our focus has to be on strengthening ourselves," he spoke.
Detailing his government's agenda for the next few years, he said that the last decade had been spent on "reform, perform and transform," but the path ahead required even more ambition. He urged traders and shopkeepers to put up boards advertising 'Swadeshi' products, stating, "If you require any change in government policies, do let me know."
The Prime Minister emphasized that India needs to stretch its footprint on the planet. "We need to go our own way. We have eliminated unnecessary compliances. India is unstopable and this is a moment to dream big," he stated.
Reaffirming his dedication to the farm community, Mr. Modi asserted: "Modi will be like a wall for the farmers. I will not leave my farmers behind. Farmers do a great contribution to our economy, they have transformed India into a top producer of many commodities."
India has pushed back US pressure during trade talks to grant broader access to its agribusiness and dairy markets, officials said.
The tensions erupted on August 6, when US President Donald Trump slapped a 25 percent extra tariff on Indian products, subsequently doubling the tariff to 50 percent, in retaliation for India's continued Russian oil import.
India decried the action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable," threatening severe repercussions for industries such as textiles, seafood, and leather exports. On Thursday, Mr. Modi reiterated that New Delhi would not buckle under economic pressure. With these new duties, India — in company with Brazil — now has the highest US tariff of 50 percent. The move has been strongly criticized by Russia, China, and other countries, which accused Washington of imposing illegal trade pressure on New Delhi.
