Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India’s biggest adversary was its dependence on other nations, while urging for self-reliance in sectors from semiconductors to shipbuilding. His remarks came after the US imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports and raised H-1B visa fees drastically.
In an indirect reference to the US decision to impose tariffs and a steep USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India’s biggest adversary was its dependence on other countries.
Addressing a gathering in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Modi said India has no major enemy in the world today except for one: “If we have any enemy, it is our dependence on other nations. This is our biggest enemy, and together we must defeat it.” He emphasised that self-reliance, or ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, is the only way for India to protect its interests and assert its self-respect on the global stage.
The PM’s comments came amid a fresh US executive order that imposes a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications starting September 21st, citing the replacement of American workers with cheaper foreign labour and national security concerns. The order claims large-scale misuse of the program has suppressed wages and disadvantaged American STEM professionals.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil as indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. He said such economic support was unacceptable and used the tariffs to pressure India to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, escalating trade tensions between the two countries.
Modi criticised policies of the past, particularly during the Congress-led governments, saying that India’s potential was suppressed after independence. “For decades, India was caught in the license-quota raj, isolated from global markets. When globalisation came, the country relied heavily on imports,” he said.
He added that dependence on foreign nations compromises national development: “We cannot leave the future of 1.4 billion citizens to others. Greater foreign dependence leads to greater failure. There is only one remedy for all of India’s challenges – a self-reliant India,” the PM said.
