Day before extra 25% US tariffs. PM makes pitch for swadeshi

Swadeshi should be everyone's life mantra and irrespective of who is investing, production must take place domestically, Modi asserted

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

AHMEDABAD: A day before US President Donald Trump's additional 25 per cent tariff kicks in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made a vehement pitch for swadeshi and Make in India that should help create jobs in the country.

Swadeshi should be everyone's life mantra and irrespective of who is investing, production must take place domestically, Modi asserted on a day when Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation committed to invest over Rs 70,000 crore in the country in the next five to six years.

The government's 'Make in India' initiative has created a favourable environment for both global and domestic manufacturers and the world will drive electric vehicles that are made in India, Modi said.

He was speaking after flagging off exports of Maruti Suzuki's first electric vehicle, the e-VITARA, from the Hansalpur facility in Gujarat to over 100 countries and also inauguration of production of lithium-ion battery, cell and electrode manufacturing for strong hybrid electric vehicles.