Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the country on Friday to move towards more self-reliance, manufacture everything from fertilisers to jet engines and EV batteries, and vowed to protect farmers in the face of a trade conflict with Washington.

India would not accept any compromise when it comes to the interests of its farmers, cattle-rearers and fishermen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday as the country wrestles with steep tariffs imposed by the US following breakdown of trade talks.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to build a “self-reliant India” and announced tax and regulatory reforms to benefit businesspeople and the middle class in his first major speech since the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on the country.