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New Delhi: Amid the Trump administration's tariff move and the recent H-1B visa fee hike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, said that the "main enemy of India is the dependence on other countries" while making a strong pitch for 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance).
Speaking at an event in Gujarat's Bhavnagar, the Prime Minister said, "In the true sense, India does not have any big enemy in the world. The only enemy of India is the dependence on other countries. We need to defeat this dependence on others."
PM Modi also hit out at the previous governments under the Congress and said the party suppressed inherent talent of Indians by placing restrictions like licence raj.
Self-reliance important for peace, stability
PM Modi further said that atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is the only one medicine for all problems of India. He also stressed that the country should make everything from (semiconductor) chips to ships.
"We have to understand the more we are dependent on others, the rate of failure is high. For peace, stability and wealth, the country with the highest population in the world has to become self-reliant," the PM underscored.
The Prime Minister was addressing the 'Samudra se Samruddhi' event in Gandhi Maidan in Bhavnagar after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of projects worth Rs 34,200 crore.
Highlighting the financial burden of such dependence, PM Modi said the country pays Rs 6 lakh crore annually to foreign firm to ship its goods across the world, which is "almost equal" to country's defence budget.
Tariff and H-1B visa shocker by US
The Prime Minister's self-reliance push comes amid tensions between India and the US over tariff row. The US last month imposed 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. In another move that would adversely affect Indians, the Trump administration on Friday imposed USD 100,000 application fee for H-1B visa. Indians account for over 70 per cent of H-1B visa beneficiaries in the US.
