NextFin news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, September 20, 2025, called for a self-reliant India during a public rally in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. He emphasized that India's biggest enemy is its dependence on other countries and urged citizens to focus on Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) for national pride, strength, and future prosperity.
Addressing the crowd at the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' event, PM Modi said, "There is no major enemy in the world for India except our dependence on other nations. We must defeat this enemy of dependence together." He stressed that India must manufacture everything domestically, from semiconductor chips to ships, to ensure peace, stability, and economic growth.
During the event, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore. These projects aim to boost India's maritime sector and infrastructure, including the inauguration of the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock and foundation stones for new container terminals at ports in Kolkata, Paradip, and Chennai.
PM Modi highlighted the financial burden of foreign dependence, noting that India pays nearly Rs 6 lakh crore annually to foreign firms for shipping goods, an amount almost equal to the country's defense budget. He pointed out that about 50 years ago, 40% of India's trade was carried on Indian-made ships, which has now dropped to just 5%.
The Prime Minister also announced reforms for Indian ports, including initiatives like 'One Nation, One Document' and 'One Nation, One Port Process' to simplify trade procedures. He linked the maritime sector's development to India's rise as a global maritime powerhouse.
Criticizing previous governments, PM Modi said that the Congress party had suppressed India's potential through restrictive policies like the license raj and excessive reliance on imports, which hindered the country's progress for decades.
The rally in Bhavnagar drew a massive crowd, with people from across the country attending. PM Modi also acknowledged gifts from children at the event and urged officials to collect their paintings.
This event coincided with the launch of GST reforms expected to boost domestic consumption, as highlighted by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the same day.
PM Modi's remarks come amid recent international developments, including the US imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, which has sparked political reactions in India.
Sources: News24 (https://news24online.com/india/pm-narendra-modi-gujarat-visit-september-20-bhavnagar-roadshow-samudra-se-samriddhi-event-34200-cr-projects-maritime-push-cruise-terminal/636731/), Firstpost (https://www.firstpost.com/world/india-real-enemy-pm-modi-trump-tariff-h-1b-visa-fee-row-aatmanirbhar-push-indegeneous-trade-deal-13935410.html)
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