‘Some Indulging In Dadagiri….’: Nitin Gadkari Stresses On Self-Reliance Amid US' Tariff Offensive

Last Updated:August 10, 2025, 23:48 IST

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stressed boosting exports and reducing imports for India's self-reliance, noting that strong economies with advanced tech dominate globally.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (PTI)

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that countries indulging in “dadagiri" (bullying) on the global stage are able to do so because they are economically strong and have technology.

While speaking at the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) in Nagpur on Saturday, Gadkari stressed the need to increase India’s exports and reduce imports, and also harness science and technology to achieve self-reliance.

“If the rate of our exports and economy increases, then I don’t think we will need to go to anyone. Those who are indulging in `dadagiri’ are doing so because they are economically strong, and they have technology. If we get better technology and resources, we will not bully anyone, because our culture teaches us that the welfare of the world is most important," he said as quoted by news agency PTI.

“We are facing various problems globally, and the solution to all these problems is science and technology, that is, knowledge, which is a power," he added.

Gadkari highlighted that increasing exports and decreasing imports is necessary if India wants to become a ‘vishwaguru’.

His remarks come at a time when India is facing its steepest-ever tariffs from the United States as announced by Donald Trump.

Trump last week had announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on US imports from India — raising the overall duty to 50 per cent. This makes India one of the most heavily taxed trading partners in US history.

Trump has railed against India and Russia over the past few days for the trade and energy relations between the two countries and pressured New Delhi to cut its Russian oil purchases. While the reciprocal tariffs have come into force, the additional duties will take effect starting August 27.

Meanwhile, India has defended its energy strategy, saying that its crude oil purchases from Russia are “a necessity compelled by global market conditions" and not a political endorsement of Moscow.

It further asserted that the country will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

The MEA termed the levies as “unjustified and unreasonable" and called out the double standards of the United States and the European Union over their trade ties with Russia.

Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a veiled swipe at Trump saying some people are not liking the fast pace of India’s growth. Addressing a gathering in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen, the Defence Minister referred to the US administration as “sabke boss."

“There are some people who are not happy with the speed at which India is developing. They are not liking it. ‘Sabke boss toh hum hain’, how is India growing at such a fast pace?" Rajnath Singh said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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Nagpur, India, India

First Published:

August 10, 2025, 23:48 IST

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