Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai
Chennai, Aug 10: India will not compromise on its strategic and national interests and will continue to protect its energy security despite mounting external pressure, former Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu asserted on Saturday amid rising trade tensions with the US.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the M S Swaminathan Centenary International Conference here, Naidu said, “No question of yielding to any threats. Threats will not work on India. We will safeguard energy security and stand firm on our strategic and national interest.”
His comments came after US President Donald Trump hiked tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50%, calling India a “dead economy” despite its strong growth. Naidu said some countries were “envious” of India’s rise and “suffering from indigestion” over its progress.
Highlighting that India is set to move from the world’s fourth to third-largest economy, he credited farmers, researchers, and youth for driving growth. He also defended India’s sovereign right to trade and questioned the fairness of selective tariffs on allies while the US and EU continue importing Russian resources.
Naidu reiterated India’s commitment to global cooperation based on the “share and care” philosophy and said there was “no reason for anybody to have any grouse against India.”
Paying tribute to late agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, the architect of India’s Green Revolution, Naidu urged swift implementation of his farmer welfare recommendations and adoption of his “Evergreen Revolution” principles to balance technology and ecology for sustainable development.
BJP MP Suresh Prabhu, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, ICAR DG M L Jat, and Swaminathan’s daughter Soumya Swaminathan attended the event.