Will protect our farmers, ready to pay heavy price for it: PM Modi | India News

NEW DELHI: PM Modi responded on Thursday to US President Donald Trump’s choice to increase the tariff in opposition to India to 50% by ruling out concessions to American enterprise within the agriculture, dairy and fishery sectors, and mentioned he was ready to pay any price he could personally have to pay for resisting the strain.“For us, the interests of our farmers is top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, dairy farmers and fishermen. I know I will personally have to pay a heavy price but I am prepared for it,” Modi mentioned.The PM’s remarks got here hours after Trump imposed a further 25% tariff burden on Indian items as a penalty for, ostensibly, shopping for Russian oil, bringing the general obligation on Indian exports to 50% and additional fanning tariff tensions. US’s insistence on entry to agriculture, dairy and fishery sectors has been among the many main factors of discord, with India placing its foot down. “For the farmers of my country, for the fishermen of my country, for the livestock rearers of my country, Bharat stands ready today,” he mentioned.PM’s readiness to pay ‘private price’ marks escalation of resistance The PM’s response on Thursday constructed upon his earlier public “no”, the one at Varanasi on Saturday, to US’s strain. The US has not solely been demanding low tariffs on sure farm merchandise resembling corn, soybeans, apples, cotton, almonds and ethanol, but in addition pitching for permitting entry of its genetically modified produce like maize, soy, canola & cotton into Indian market. It additionally desires India to let in beef and cattle feed, which has bones & different animal elements; each completely “no-go” zones for govt.During commerce negotiations, India resisted the US demand to decrease tariffs on these merchandise as it’ll negatively impression Indian farmers who produce maize, soybean, pulses, cotton and fruits and nuts. India additionally opposed the American transfer to push GM merchandise due to biosafety issues.Significantly, the “whatever-it-takes” assertion got here in the course of the PM’s speech at an occasion to mark the centenary of legendary agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, the driving power behind ‘Green Revolution’ which helped India overcome its dependence on US foodgrains and shake off the stigma of “ship-to mouth” financial system. Modi’s assertion about his readiness to pay a “personal price” additionally marked an escalation of Indian resistance and the transformation of the commerce dispute into a problem of nationwide delight and self-reliance.With Modi taking it upon himself to lead the “resistance”, Trump’s declare, already neutered by his hectoring, that he had leveraged a promise of a tariff deal to get India to pause Operation Sindoor, appeared to have receded into the background.Outlining his imaginative and prescient for Indian agriculture, Modi, on the event, pushed for combining conventional Indian agricultural practices with fashionable science, and emphasised the necessity to guarantee dietary safety, crop diversification and growth of climate-resilient crop varieties. He additionally pitched for integration of AI and machine studying in agricultural techniques.“Govt has always considered the strength of farmers as the foundation of national progress,” Modi mentioned, noting that the insurance policies formulated in recent times weren’t merely about help, however about instilling confidence amongst farmers.