Union Home Minister Amit Shah said India would never compromise its farmers’ welfare or national interests in any trade pact with the United States, amid Washington’s decision to impose additional tariffs on Indian exports. He was addressing the Manorama News Conclave at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre here on Friday.

“Modi ji has made it clear that no trade agreement will override India’s interests. Farmers’ interests will not be put at risk. Every decision will be taken with the nation first in mind,” said the union minister.

His comments came after the US levied an additional 25 per cent duty on Indian products including textiles, seafood and leather, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil.

Shah hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic stewardship, saying India had risen from the world’s 11th-largest economy to the fourth in just over a decade. By contrast, he accused the previous Congress-led government of letting the economy stagnate.

“No one has the right to rest until we reach the top,” he told the audience, urging collective effort to make India a global leader.

Targeting Kerala’s Left-led government, Shah alleged that “communist ideology has stalled the state’s growth” despite its opportunities. He expressed confidence that voters would bring change, adding that the BJP aimed to capture 25 per cent of the vote in the upcoming local body polls.

On internal security, Shah said violence had dropped sharply in recent years, with “70 per cent fewer deaths and 74 per cent fewer casualties among security forces.” He credited tough action against terrorism, including Operation Sindoor, stricter UAPA provisions, and efforts to curb Naxalism.

Referring to Manipur, he said unrest there was triggered by a court verdict, not religion, and stressed that peace was being restored. On Jammu and Kashmir, he said local recruitment into militancy had fallen to “zero” and stone-pelting had ended.

Shah praised Modi as a tireless leader who “left his family and self-interest for the nation” and remains a role model for youth.