From Bishkek, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a strong appeal to Indian citizens, urging them to curtail foreign leisure travel, avoid hosting weddings abroad, and limit unnecessary gold purchases. Speaking during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan, PM Modi linked these personal spending choices directly to the 'swadeshi' (self-reliance) movement and India's broader ambition to achieve a 'developed India' by its 100th year of independence.
The Prime Minister emphasized that these measures are crucial for sustaining India's robust economic growth, which recently recorded an impressive 7.8% despite significant global uncertainties, ongoing conflicts, and disruptions to supply chains. He called for continued public participation to maintain this economic momentum.
Embracing Self-Reliance
Modi explicitly stated, "Foreign trips, if you are going for leisure, you should not go. If you are getting married abroad, you should not do so. And if it is not necessary, you should not buy gold either." He articulated his firm belief that a stronger emphasis on 'swadeshi' and self-reliance today will pave the way for a prosperous future for India's younger generations.
This isn't the first time PM Modi has advocated for such austerity and focus on domestic consumption. Earlier in May, he made a similar call, urging citizens to conserve fuel, reduce foreign travel, and promote Indian-made goods, particularly amidst geopolitical tensions affecting global oil supplies.
Economic Resilience Amidst Criticism
Highlighting India's rapid progress, Modi also took a veiled swipe at domestic critics, accusing some of "spreading despair" and "lies" even as the economy demonstrates resilience. He reiterated that despite such internal negativity and external challenges, the country achieved significant growth, a pace he insists must be maintained.
The SCO Summit in Bishkek
The Prime Minister's remarks came from Bishkek, where he was attending the 26th SCO Summit, hosted by Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov. The summit convened leaders from the 10 member states, including China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif, alongside representatives from partner countries and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017, participating actively in discussions on regional security, economic cooperation, and cultural ties.
Modi's message from the international platform underscored his administration's commitment to fostering economic independence and national development through collective citizen effort, even while engaging in multilateral diplomacy.