PM Modi Vows to Protect Farmers & Fishermen Amid Tariff Tensions, Urges ‘Samriddh Bharat’ Push

Delhi: Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on India’s 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that he would never allow the interests of farmers, livestock keepers, and fishermen to be compromised, even as the country faces a steep tariff hike from the United States.

With US President Donald Trump slapping a total 50% tariff on Indian products — in response to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil — Modi struck a defiant tone. “Any policy that harms our farmers will find me standing like an unbreakable wall against it. Their welfare is non-negotiable,” he said, stressing that the country’s development must remain rooted in the protection of rural communities and the adoption of quality-driven manufacturing.

The Prime Minister urged citizens to embrace the ‘vocal for local’ movement, linking it directly to India’s 21st-century vision of ‘Samriddh Bharat’ — a prosperous India. “The world respects quality. If we want to strengthen our nation’s standing in the global market, our mantra must be: ‘Daam kam, dum zyada’ — lower cost, greater value,” Modi declared.

He also paid homage to freedom fighters, reminding the nation that the current generation’s responsibility is to turn independence into prosperity. “The last generation fought to free India; this generation must commit to making India truly prosperous,” he said.