India would put its interests first and would not compromise on protecting its farmers, fishermen and dairy sector, even if that means paying a heavy price, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday. His remarks were seen as a direct response to US President Donald Trump, who slapped a 50 per cent tariff on India for its continued purchases of Russian oil.
“For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority,” Modi declared at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi. “India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it and I am ready for it. India is ready for it.”
His defiant tone came just hours after Trump slapped an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, pushing the total duty to a staggering 50 per cent, the highest the US has imposed on any country.
The move is widely seen as a direct punishment for India’s refusal to toe the US line on buying Russian oil and military equipment, a sore point that has strained a strategic relationship that had been on the up and up in recent years.
While calling India a “friend,” Trump warned of a “penalty” just days ago. On Wednesday, he delivered.
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