Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sent a strong message supporting small business owners and farmers, just two days ahead of US President Donald Trump's 50 percent tariff on India.
"Today in the world, everyone is busy doing politics based on economic interests. From this land of Ahmedabad, I will tell my small entrepreneurs, my small shopkeeper brothers and sisters, my farmer brothers and sisters, my animal husbandry brothers and sisters and I am saying this on the land of Gandhi ... be it the small entrepreneurs, farmers, or animal keepers of my country, for everyone, I promise you again and again, your interests are paramount for Modi," he said while addressing a rally in Ahmedabad.
"My government will never let any harm come to the small entrepreneurs, farmers, and animal keepers. No matter how much pressure comes, we will keep increasing our strength to withstand. Today, the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is getting a lot of energy from Gujarat and behind this are two decades of hard work," PM Modi said.
The pointed nature of the statement comes only days ahead of the US imposing a 50 percent tariff on Indian products starting on August 27. Relations between New Delhi and Washington have soured since President Donald Trump raised the tariff on imports from India to an unprecedented 50 percent, an increase which encompasses an additional 25 percent penalty related to India's discounted purchases of Russian crude.
The U.S. alleges that India is indirectly aiding Moscow's war effort in Ukraine through those oil imports, an allegation New Delhi has rejected outright. After Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow in response to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, India began purchasing Russian crude at discounted prices.
Foreign minister S Jaishankar, speaking in Delhi on Saturday, mocked Washington’s stance. "It’s ironic for a pro-business American administration to accuse others of doing business," he quipped, when asked about the US criticism.
Taking a sharper swipe, he added: "If you don’t like Indian oil or refined products, don’t buy them. Nobody is forcing you. But Europe buys, America buys. So if you have a problem, just stop buying."
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