PM Modi Champions ‘Swadeshi’ Spirit, Urges Austerity Amidst Robust 7.8% Economic Growth
BISHKEK – During his official visit to Kyrgyzstan for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a strong call for national self-reliance, urging citizens to embrace indigenous products and exercise financial restraint to bolster India’s economic trajectory.
In a candid, selfie-style video message shared on Tuesday, the Prime Minister celebrated India’s recent achievement of 7.8% GDP growth. However, he accompanied the positive news with a firm appeal for citizens to shift their consumption habits toward domestic alternatives.
“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 stated, reiterating his government’s long-standing push for the “Swadeshi” (indigenous) movement.
Navigating Global Uncertainty
The Prime Minister highlighted that India’s economic momentum remains resilient despite significant global headwinds, including ongoing geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, and widespread economic volatility.
Addressing his domestic critics, PM Modi took a sharp swipe at those he described as being “drowned in an atmosphere of despair.” He accused these individuals of spreading “jhooth ki goonj” (the echo of lies) to undermine the country’s progress. The remark was widely viewed as a veiled jab at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent “Chhatron Ki Goonj” student outreach campaign, which has focused on systemic issues like unemployment and competitive exam paper leaks.
“Overcoming all these things, breaking through all those challenges, the country has achieved 7.8% growth. We have to maintain this pace,” the Prime Minister asserted, adding that the government’s “clear intentions” and “right policies” are empowering the 140 crore citizens to drive the nation to new heights.
A Consistent Call for Austerity
This is not the first time the Prime Minister has advocated for such measures. In May, as global oil markets faced turbulence due to the conflict in the Middle East, he similarly urged the public to conserve fuel and limit non-essential imports. By discouraging luxury foreign weddings and gold purchases, the government aims to reduce the outflow of foreign exchange and promote the consumption of locally manufactured goods.
Global Diplomacy at the SCO
PM Modi’s comments arrived as he began his engagements at the Yrys Ordo Congress Hall in Bishkek. The high-profile SCO summit, hosted by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, features key world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The summit is operating under the “SCO Plus” format, which includes various partner nations and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. As India—a full member since 2017—continues to play a pivotal role in the bloc, the Prime Minister is expected to use his address to emphasize the importance of economic growth and regional stability in a fractured geopolitical landscape.
Looking toward the future, the Prime Minister expressed confidence in the next generation, promising that the hard work of today will secure the aspirations of the country’s youth. “We will fulfill the dreams of our young generation through our hard work today,” he concluded.
