India will prioritise its national interests and not compromise on safeguarding its farmers, fishermen, and dairy sector, even if it comes at a significant cost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday. His statement is being viewed as a strong rebuttal to US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 50% tariff on India over its continued imports of Russian oil.
00:00All right, we have some news just coming in at this point in time.
00:02This has got to do with the Prime Minister's clearest message to bully.
00:06Trump will never let down farmers, is what the Prime Minister has said,
00:10saying that he's ready to pay a personal price for the same.
00:14It's a resounding, no-compromise, woke rye from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
00:20Clearly, the gloves are off here.
00:22Modi hints at an all-out counter at U.S. bullying.
00:25The American president particularly coming down heavily on India.
00:29India says we are ready to pay a huge price,
00:33but the interest of farmers comes first, says the Prime Minister.
00:37This has got to do with the U.S. being bitter about India not allowing access to agriculture,
00:42protecting the interest of our farmers.
00:44And that's the reason why things have worsened.
00:51Karishma is getting in more details on that story, but before that, let's take a listen.
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01:12। भारत, अपने किसानों के, पशुपालकों के, और मचवारे भाई-बेनों के हितों के साथ, कभी भी समझोता नहीं करेगा।
01:30। अपने किसानों के लिए, मेरे देश के मचवारों के लिए, मेरे देश के पशुपालों के लिए, आज भारत तयार है।
01:55।
02:25Yeah, the US since day one has been asking greater market access especially when it comes to goods pertaining to agriculture that is rice, milk, maize, genetically organized, organic, genetically organic crops and so yeah.
02:46Now, India has taken a very strong stance since the beginning that it's not going to let its domestic farmers, domestic industry be impacted.
02:57Because the minute you give that wider access and you let that happen, then there is going to be an issue with the way our systems and policies have been working especially surround agriculture.
03:13So it's a very politically sensitive move that we are taking, of course our country is taking its neck out in order to take a strong and firm stand of the fact that we are okay to absorb 50% tariff but we are not okay to let go of something that we have been building on for years.
03:32Let's not forget when it comes to data, about 18 to 20% of our GDP comes from agriculture so we clearly will not be able to let that go.
03:42We cannot have that access, that market access cut down and the fact that we have been building on the whole concept of Atmanivar, Bharat and self-reliance.
03:53This will not be taken in good stride for us domestically if we have to budge into U.S. demands.
04:01Piyush also is with us.
04:02Karishma continue to be with us.
04:03Piyush, this is the Prime Minister's reiteration.
04:05Obviously, it also comes at a time when the government is under a fair amount of spotlight with the opposition waiting for one small opportunity for the government to take any decision which would be against our farmers.
04:17And hence, the government is taking this position that the interest of farmers comes first, isn't it?
04:24Well, that's right, the government has once again made it very clear that the interest of farmers comes first.
04:30And this is a stand which the government has been taking since the time U.S. announced that it is going to impose.
04:36If you remember that in the last few months, there are multiple negotiations that have taken place between India and America in which, you know,
04:44America always wanted India to import a few products like non-veg milk, GM props, on which what we are told from our sources within the government that we are not going to import any kind of non-veg milk because not only the religious sentiments will be hurt,
05:00but it is also going to hurt our farmers economically.
05:04And that's what the Prime Minister is also highlighting that, okay, he's ready to pay a huge price for that, but for PM Narendra Modi, the interest of farmers comes first.
05:14And that's what he has once again highlighted.
05:17Remember that he was speaking during a program in which multiple, you know, organizations of farmers were also present.
05:23And in front of farmers itself, Prime Minister has highlighted that the interest of farmers is very, very important and it is paramount.
05:30And that's the stand which the government has been taking and once again, the Prime Minister has reiterated this.
05:35Be with us, Piyush, Karishma, getting in those details.
05:38Listen in once again to what the Prime Minister said.
05:40Please listen to our members.
06:07साथ कभी भी समझोता नहीं करेगा आ
06:16है कि आदे जानता है का व्यक्ति गद्रुप से मुझे बहुत बढ़ी कीमत चुकाने
06:23पड़ेगी है कि लेकिन मैं इसके लिए तयार हूं मैरे देश के किसानों
06:30All right, I'm going to go straight across to Tom Varakan of the Bharatiya Janata Party
06:44for more on that.
06:45Tom Varakan, clearly the interest of the farmers and of fishermen, like the Prime Minister
06:50said, has been put forth, but there's a price to pay and we're seeing that very hard decisions,
06:56difficult decisions that have been taken by the US administration, which could cost
06:59last year, isn't it?
07:02Well, Prime Minister Modi has said what he had to say and that is the reality because
07:10we can't be imposed to do the dictates of a foreign head of state.
07:19So we are ready to pay the price.
07:21Prime Minister set the example that India first and we will continue to do that.
07:27Our interests are important.
07:29We will have to do some sacrifices, yes, but we are ready to take on whatever comes our
07:36way and we will support the agricultural sector, the farmers, the fishermen and other sectors
07:45which are a priority to India.
07:47We will not make any compromise.
07:50That's what the Prime Minister said.
07:51I also want to ask you, Mr. Varakan, this also comes at a time when there is obviously
07:56the opposition's eyes on you, isn't it?
07:59On the government, on what it decides to do vis-a-vis the interests of the farmers.
08:03Fair amount of pressure because obviously there can't be any decision that is going to be taken
08:07against the interests of the farmers.
08:10Our agricultural economy is something that we have to protect and this is what the government
08:14is doing.
08:15Yes.
08:16When we support the farmers, the opposition will scream that our interests are being compromised.
08:25But the reality is farmers have always been the priority of our Prime Minister.
08:29Fishermen is something that we will protect.
08:33And the other sectors, sensitive sectors that the Prime Minister mentions, will be protected
08:39and he has reiterated these points and I think the opposition is trying to build a narrative
08:46this way or the other, you know, go against the state.
08:50Their hate for Modiji is reflected in their hate for India and they are fighting India.
08:59And I think the leader of the opposition is leading this tirade.
09:02And I don't think there's going to be any compromise by the government of India on these grounds.
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