Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to safeguarding farmers’ interests, declaring that India would “never accept any compromise” in this regard. Delivering his 12th consecutive Independence Day address, he underscored the role of farmers and fishermen in making the country “self-sufficient,” a pointed message amid ongoing tensions over a stalled trade deal with the United States.
“India’s farmers and fishermen are our priority… India will never accept any compromise when it comes to the interests of our farmers. Modi deewar bankar khada hai (Modi is standing like a wall),” the Prime Minister stated.
Emphasising his vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, Modi said, “Being dependent on other countries is a recipe for disaster. We must be self-reliant to safeguard our interests.” He reiterated his readiness to pay “a huge price” personally to protect farmers’ welfare.
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The trade impasse follows India’s resistance to opening its domestic market to US agricultural and dairy imports, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump. After five rounds of negotiations, talks collapsed. In response, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods and announced an additional 25% levy over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
New Agriculture Initiatives and Technology Goals
Highlighting agricultural reforms, PM Modi said the government had identified around 100 districts requiring extra support. “To strengthen them, we have started the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana,” he noted.
The Prime Minister also outlined ambitious technology and energy targets, announcing that “Made-in-India chips” would be available by the end of 2025. He called for domestic production of fertilisers and indigenous fighter jet engines to strengthen India’s presence in global markets.
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“We know that we remain dependent on many countries to meet our energy needs. But to build a truly self-reliant India, we must achieve energy independence. In the last 11 years, our solar energy capacity has increased by 30 times… Ten new nuclear reactors are currently operational. By the time India celebrates 100 years of independence, we aim to increase our nuclear energy capacity tenfold,” he said.
