NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for revitalizing ‘khadi’ during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He highlighted that sales of khadi and village industry products have surged five-fold, increasing from ₹33,000 crore to over ₹1.7 lakh crore during the 11 years of Modi’s government at the Centre.
Speaking at the Khadi India showroom in Connaught Place on Gandhi Jayanti, Shah urged citizens to support the khadi and swadeshi campaigns, urging each family to commit to purchasing khadi products worth at least ₹5,000 annually. He asserted that such a move would create employment opportunities for millions and enhance living conditions. “By embracing swadeshi, we align ourselves with the ambitious campaign to position India at the forefront globally by 2047,” he stated.
Shah set an example by purchasing khadi products from the store and completing his transaction online. He noted that the campaigns, initiated by Modi, should empower India and become engrained in the national consciousness to be passed to future generations.
The Minister reflected on Mahatma Gandhi’s role in the freedom movement, stressing that khadi and swadeshi were integral to it. He stated, “Gandhiji not only accelerated the freedom movement but also transformed the lives of numerous poor people in the process.” He admitted that these ideas had been “forgotten” for an extended period, but credited Modi for launching a focused revival effort for khadi in 2003.
Shah mentioned how Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program has encouraged Swadeshi, inspiring citizens to engage in economic development and the ‘Make in India’ initiative. He reported that millions of families and shopkeepers across the nation have opted to refrain from using or selling foreign goods, thereby contributing to the swadeshi movement.
