Daijiworld Media Network - Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar, Sep 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday delivered a strong pitch for economic self-reliance, warning that India’s dependence on foreign nations remains one of the biggest challenges to its development. Speaking at a massive public gathering in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, during the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' programme, the Prime Minister said that true national progress is not possible without becoming 'Atmanirbhar' — self-reliant — in both technology and trade.
The event saw the inauguration and foundation-laying of development projects worth over ?34,200 crore across various sectors. Addressing the crowd at Jawahar Maidan, Modi emphasized the importance of reducing external dependence in critical sectors, including manufacturing, energy, and shipping.
“India is moving forward with the spirit of Vishwabandhu — global brotherhood — but the biggest enemy we face today is our own dependence on others,” he said. “We cannot leave the future of 140 crore Indians in the hands of other countries.”
He stressed that whether it’s semiconductors or shipping vessels, India must manufacture them domestically. “From chips to ships — they must be Made in India,” Modi said, adding that greater foreign reliance compromises national dignity and stability.
Modi took a sharp dig at past governments, especially the Congress-led UPA, accusing them of undermining India’s potential for decades after Independence. “India was never lacking in capability,” he said. “But after Independence, the ruling party ignored this. They kept India stuck in the license-quota raj, isolated it from global markets, and failed to harness our strengths.”
He particularly targeted the import-heavy policies during the liberalisation era, alleging that the Congress government prioritised imports over nurturing domestic capacity, which led to massive scams and long-term structural damage, especially to the youth and future generations.
One of Modi’s most pointed criticisms was aimed at the collapse of India’s shipbuilding industry. Recalling that India was once a major maritime force and a global shipbuilding hub, he said that poor policy decisions had reversed this legacy. “Even 50 years ago, Indian-built ships handled over 40% of our trade. Today, that number is just 5%. Ninety-five per cent of our import-export is done on foreign ships,” he stated.
Modi revealed that India currently spends nearly $75 billion (about Rs 6 lakh crore) annually on freight payments to foreign shipping companies — a figure almost equal to the country's defence budget. “If just a small part of that had been invested in our own shipbuilding sector, the world today would have been sailing on Indian ships,” he said.
Making a case for widespread reform, Modi announced that starting today, ports across India will adopt ‘One Nation, One Document’ and ‘One Nation, One Port’ systems to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and streamline maritime operations. He said that outdated colonial-era laws had been removed in the recent Monsoon Session, and five new maritime laws were now being introduced to bring about transformational change.
Modi also highlighted progress made in naval shipbuilding under his government. “In the last ten years, more than 40 ships and submarines have been inducted into the Navy, most of which have been built in India, including the mighty INS Vikrant and the high-grade steel used in it,” he said.
He ended his address with a call to collective national resolve, urging citizens to support the ‘Made in India’ movement in letter and spirit. “To build a Viksit Bharat by 2047, there is no alternative to self-reliance,” he said. “The political will is in place. Now the people must match it with commitment and contribution.”