New Delhi: Amid the American tariff hike, PM Narendra Modi in his 12th consecutive Independence Day speech reiterated that India will not compromise on the interests of farmers.
“India’s farmers, her livestock rearers, and her fishermen are our priority… India will never accept any compromise when it comes to the interests of our farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen,” said Modi from the rampants of Red Fort.
“Modi deewar bankar khada hai (Modi is standing like a wall),” he said in the context of protecting the interests of farmers, livestock rearers and fishermen.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came at a time when the US is seeking duty concessions from India in the agriculture and dairy sectors in the proposed bilateral trade agreement being negotiated between the countries.
Recently, the US increased tariffs on Indian goods to 50%. However, PM Modi did not directly mention Trump’s tariffs in his two hour long speech.
Last week too, Modi swore to protect the interests of farmers, even if it came at a personal price.
Trade talks between both the countries collapsed after five rounds of negotiations. On 14 August, the Indian foreign ministry said that it hoped relations with US would move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests
‘Farmers made us self-sufficient’
In his Independence Day speech, Modi said it had been a challenge to ensure food for everyone after Independence. “But our farmers made us self-sufficient,” he said. Echoing his government’s push for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, he said being dependent on other countries was a recipe for disaster. “We must be self-reliant to safeguard our interests,” he said.
Modi also talked about the Indus Waters Treaty which is in abeyance after the Pahalgam attack. “The treaty was neither in the country’s interests nor in the interest of India’s farmers,” he said, adding that India has now decided that blood and water will not flow together.
“People have come to realise that the Indus Waters Treaty is unjust and one-sided. Water from the Indus River system has been irrigating the lands of the enemy, while our own farmers have suffered,” said Modi.
In his speech, he also mentioned that in the agriculture sector, the government has identified around 100 districts where farmers need additional support. “To strengthen them, we have started the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana,” he said, adding that the government was delivering the benefits of numerous development schemes to small farmers, livestock keepers, and fishermen.
“Be it the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, rainwater harvesting, irrigation schemes, or quality seeds, farmers now have confidence in every field,” he said.
Modi said India has reached the second position in the world in terms of production of wheat, rice, fruits, and vegetables. “The produce that the farmers of my country cultivate is now reaching the markets of the world. Agro products worth Rs 4 lakh crore have been exported,” he said.
“The farmers of my country make a huge contribution to India’s economy,” he added. “The hard work of India’s farmers is bearing fruit. Last year, the farmers of my country broke all previous records in grain production. This is the strength of my country’s farmers,” said Modi.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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