PM Modi in Bhavnagar
RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: PM Narendra Modi ratcheted up his “atmanirbharta” push amid increasing protectionist measures globally, saying on Saturday that from “chip to ship, everything must be made in India”, which has no choice now but to be self-reliant. Dedicating projects spanning various sectors and worth over Rs 1 lakh crore, PM Modi said in Bhavnagar that “in real terms, if there is one enemy of India, it is our reliance on other countries”.The PM also tore into the opposition Congress, saying that its flawed policies post-Independence and deliberate neglect of India’s inherent competence had pushed the country into severe dependence on imports that resulted in staggering financial losses.“India is moving forward with the spirit of global brotherhood and we have no major enemy in the world today… For peace, stability and prosperity, our country will have to become self-reliant. Dependence on other countries will compromise our self-respect too. The future of 140 crore citizens cannot be left at the mercy of other nations,” he said.The PM blamed Congress for entangling the country in licence and quota raj and choosing the import path when the era of globalisation began. He claimed Congress resorted to scams running into lakhs of crores of rupees. A striking example of Congress’ ruinous policies, he said, was the collapse of India’s legacy ship-building sector, whose share in the global market plummeted from 40% to just 5% in 50 years.Quoting the popular saying “Sau dukhon ki ek dawa (one remedy for 100 ills), the PM said “aatmanirbharta” is the only solution to all of the country’s problems.
