Self-reliance is India’s response to “economic selfishness,” Modi tells nation

In a reference to United States President Donald Trump’s tariff wars, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India needs to face global conditions with courage at a time when economic selfishness (aarthic swarth)” is on the rise and that the path of self-reliance is the only way to ensure the nation is not caught in the clutches of self-serving interests of others.

Addressing the nation for the 12^th consecutive time from the Red Fort on Independence Day, Modi outlined a vision of increasing self-reliance (atma nirbharta) aimed at increasing India’s comprehensive national power and giving it the resilience and strength to negotiate global uncertainties on its terms. “I am not saying we need to increase our strength to cut someone to size. We need to draw a longer line (lakeer), only then will the world accept our strength,” the Prime Minister said.

Reprising the Freedom Struggle rallying cry of “Be Indian, buy Indian,” Modi said the national manufacturing mission is an initiative to provide the youth and entrepreneurs to work for the nation. “Buy products that have the fragrance of India’s soil,” he said. The Prime Minister said this is not an agenda for one party but rather for the nation. “Believe and honour Swadeshi with conviction (mazbooti) which can make others helpless (mazboor),” he said, driving home the point that self-reliance can constrain the ability of others to act against India’s interests.

The self-reliance theme was very much part of Modi’s message that he is not willing to bend on farm, fisheries and dairy products in trade talks with the US. “I want to assure our farmers that Modi is standing like a wall. There will be no compromise on he interests of our farmers,” he said.

A significant part of the Prime Minister’s speech was devoted to urging the youth to step forward and drive innovation and enterprise and he said he was ready to be a partner and facilitator. Modi announced the Budget promise of supporting new employees in the private sector with Rs 15,000 will be implemented and said he expects the youth to fully participate in the national effort to make India a developed nation by 2047.

He said there were many opportunities in the private sector for youth that would allow their abilities to come to the fore. He elaborated the theme of self-reliance and the opportunities for the youth by announcing a new futuristic defence project “Sudarshan Chakra,” making India the “pharmacy of the world,” developing indigenous social media and communications platforms, pursuing nuclear energy and renewable sources and making jet engines and semi-conductors in India.

Modi complimented his exhortation for developing India’s self-reliance by announcing his government’s determination to pursue next generation reforms by setting up a task force for simplifying regulations and said a long pending rejig of Goods and Services Tax will provide a bonanza to people by Diwali.

Looking to counter apprehension that an adverse global situation might impact India’s economic growth, the Prime Minister said India is well on course to achieving the distinction of becoming the world’s third largest economy.

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