Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indian citizens and traders to embrace a renewed “Swadeshi” movement, emphasizing the importance of promoting locally made products to fortify the nation’s economy during a period of global instability. Speaking at a public gathering in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi on August 2, 2025, Modi highlighted India’s trajectory toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy and stressed the need for vigilance in safeguarding national economic interests.
Modi’s remarks come in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement labeling India a “dead economy” and the imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian goods, effective August 7, alongside an unspecified penalty for India’s purchase of Russian military equipment and crude oil. Modi addressed these global economic challenges, noting, “The world economy is facing instability and uncertainty. In such times, countries are focusing solely on their own interests. India, too, must remain alert to its own economic priorities.”
The Prime Minister called on traders and shopkeepers to pledge to sell only Swadeshi goods, describing such actions as the “truest service to the country.” He urged consumers to prioritize products made through the labor and skills of Indian workers, reinforcing the “Vocal for Local” mantra. “Whatever we buy, we should ask ourselves has an Indian toiled to make this? If it has been made by the sweat of our people, with their skills, that product is Swadeshi for us,” Modi said.
With the festival and wedding seasons approaching, Modi encouraged citizens to ensure all purchases are domestically produced, recalling how many shifted wedding plans to India following his earlier appeals. He emphasized that embracing Swadeshi is not just a call from him but a collective responsibility for all Indians, including political parties and leaders, to foster national progress. “The feeling of Swadeshi in every action will define our future. This will also be a true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi,” he added.
The U.S. tariff move is perceived as a tactic to pressure New Delhi into conceding to demands in ongoing trade negotiations, particularly as India has resisted offering duty concessions on agricultural products, dairy, and genetically modified foods in a proposed bilateral trade agreement. Trump’s comments on Truth Social described India’s trade policies as “most strenuous and obnoxious,” while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed the “dead economy” remark, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP.
Modi also highlighted India’s commitment to protecting farmers, small industries, and youth employment, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal affirming that the government is assessing the implications of the U.S. tariffs to safeguard national interests. The Prime Minister’s push for Swadeshi aligns with India’s broader goal of economic self-reliance amid a volatile global economic landscape.