EMPHASISES SELF-RELIANCE, SELF-RESPECT; WARNS OF ATTEMPT TO CHANGE INDIA'S DEMOGRAPHY: PM MODI

Independence Day address, under the shadow of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, peppered with announcements of economic and other reforms, mission to check “conspiracy to change demography”, changes in GST by Diwali

- KALIDAS NEWDELHI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch with policy prescriptions for economicand security-related reforms for self-reliance in his Independence Day address, stating that for any nation, even today, the yardstick of aatma samman (self-respect) remained aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), while at the same time warning of a conspiracy to change the demographic make up of the country.

The speech was peppered with substantive announcements on reforms, which he presaged by stating that “self-reliance is not limited to import-export, Rupees, pounds or dollars but linked to our own strengths and capabilities.”

The speech gains importance in the oblique reference to challenges faced by India in the face of the 50% tariffs on Indian goods announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Modi said India needed to be bigger by its own strength not by trying to reduce the footprint of another country, “economic greed of some countries is evident”, without naming names.

Starting with the deployment of Indian arms and weapons systems during Operation Sindoor which he said had perplexed the enemy, Prime Minister Modi said self-reliance in defence and economy were the cornerstone of a developed India.

He announced two major task forces, one to initiate second generation reforms of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, eight years after its introduction, and a high powered task force for next generation economic reforms.