Modi’s Self-Reliance Call May Spell Protectionist Turn for India

Once a key advocate of globalization, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to have all but abandoned it. His advice to Indians yesterday to “buy local” is seen signaling a turn toward protectionism.

“Self-reliance” was mentioned at least 17 times during Modi’s 33-minute address to the nation on Tuesday night, his third since imposing a nationwide lockdown to stop the coronavirus from spreading. While urging citizens to turn the crisis into an opportunity to grow local manufacturing capabilities, he said the state of the world today is a lesson for the country to become self-reliant.