'Don't buy gold, don't marry abroad': PM Modi revives swadeshi pitch amid India's GDP growth

In a selfie-style video message, PM Modi congratulated the country for recording 7.8% economic growth in Q1.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked Indians to avoid going on foreign trips, having weddings abroad, and to refrain from buying gold. In another selfie-style video message, PM Modi congratulated the country for recording 7.8% economic growth and spoke of the need to promote self-reliance and give greater emphasis to swadeshi products.

“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,” PM Modi said.

He said greater emphasis on swadeshi and self-reliance would help India realise its long-term goals.

“The more we emphasise swadeshi, the more we emphasise self-reliance, I have firm faith that when it is 100 years of independence, we will present a developed India to our young generation,” he said.

He said India had achieved the growth despite global instability, wars, crises and disruptions to supply chains.

PM Modi's dig at Rahul Gandhi

Modi said India was progressing rapidly despite global uncertainty, wars, crises and disruptions to supply chains. Taking a swipe at his critics, he said some people within the country, “drowned in an atmosphere of despair”, were spreading the “echo of lies” all around.

“India is progressing rapidly. On the other hand, within India too, people drowned in an atmosphere of despair are engaged in spreading ‘jhooth ki goonj’ all around. Overcoming all these things, breaking through all those challenges, the country has achieved 7.8% growth. We have to maintain this pace,” he said.

The phrase “jhooth ki goonj” appeared to be a veiled dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” campaign, a student outreach initiative focused on issues including paper leaks, unemployment and the education system.

‘Dreams of young generation will be fulfilled’

Modi said the country's youth would see their dreams being realised through the hard work being put in today. “We will fulfil the dreams of our young generation through our hard work today,” he said.

He also called on citizens to continue contributing to the country's progress, saying the government's policies and intentions were right.

“And therefore, countrymen, let us leave no stone unturned in our efforts. Our policy is right, our intention is clear, and the strength of 140 crore countrymen, coming together today, is taking the country to new heights,” Modi said.

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