If India Wants to Become the Third Global Power, It Must Embrace Swadeshi: Prime Minister Modi

• On a one-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged traders and citizens to adopt Swadeshi.
• Addressed a massive public gathering at Banouli village in Sevapuri, Varanasi.
• Inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 52 projects worth ₹2,200 crore.
• Released ₹20,500 crore under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi to farmers across the country.
• Modi said the funds released from Kashi are like ‘Prasad’ (holy offering).
• Called for a national resolve towards Swadeshi and Vocal for Local.
• “What BJP says, it delivers,” said PM Modi.

Varanasi, Aug 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his one-day visit to Varanasi, addressed a grand public meeting at Banouli village in Sevapuri. He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 52 projects worth around ₹2,200 crore. On this occasion, under the 20th installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, more than 9.7 crore farmers received ₹20,500 crore directly into their bank accounts. A short film showcasing the scheme’s success and its impact on farmers was also screened.

Modi called upon traders and citizens across the nation to embrace Swadeshi if India aims to become the world’s third superpower. He stressed that India must safeguard its economic interests as the global scenario is witnessing increasing instability and nations are prioritizing their own interests. With India poised to become the third-largest economy, vigilance over domestic economic priorities is crucial, Modi added.

Swadeshi Resolve and Vocal for Local Movement
The Prime Minister appealed to the public to take a pledge towards Swadeshi. He urged political parties and leaders to rise above hesitation and inspire the citizens to adopt Swadeshi wholeheartedly. Modi emphasized purchasing products crafted by Indian hands and skill, promoting the ‘Vocal for Local’ mantra, and supporting the Make in India initiative.

Addressing traders and shopkeepers specifically, he requested them to sell only Swadeshi products, highlighting that this commitment is true service to the nation. Referring to the upcoming festive and wedding seasons, Modi encouraged citizens to consciously buy Indian-made goods and to conduct weddings in India rather than spending extravagantly abroad.

BJP Delivers What It Promises
Speaking on farmer-centric policies, Modi said that while previous governments only made empty promises, the BJP government fulfills its commitments. He cited the continuous disbursement of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi as a testament to the government’s resolve, dismissing the opposition’s claims that the scheme would be discontinued post-elections.

Modi highlighted that ₹3.75 lakh crore has been deposited directly into farmers’ accounts so far, with Uttar Pradesh’s farmers receiving over ₹90,000 crore and Kashi’s farmers benefiting from ₹900 crore. The direct benefit transfer system ensures transparency and eliminates middlemen, he emphasized.

Priority to the Most Backward Regions
Referring to his development mantra — “The more backward the area, the higher the priority” — Modi spoke about the newly launched PM Dhan Dhanay Yojana, with an investment of ₹24,000 crore, focusing on low-income and low-yield districts. He outlined various government initiatives supporting farmers from seed to market and emphasized substantial investments in irrigation and crop insurance schemes.

Focus on Women and Agricultural Research
Highlighting the empowerment of women in agriculture, Modi mentioned the “Lakhpati Didi” campaign aimed at creating three crore women entrepreneurs, out of which 1.5 crore women have already become Lakhpati Didis. He humorously remarked that hearing such figures would send opposition parties scrambling on bicycles. The Drone Didi scheme has significantly boosted rural women’s income, and the government is connecting lab research to farms to ensure innovation reaches the grassroots.

Jan Dhan Yojana and KYC Drive
On the 10th anniversary of the Jan Dhan Yojana, Modi noted that 55 crore bank accounts had been opened for the underprivileged. He appreciated the ongoing KYC update campaign being carried out in over 1 lakh village panchayats.

Kashi MP Competitions and Aid to the Differently-Abled
PM Modi also launched the website, registration portal, and QR code for Kashi MP competitions. He spoke about the success of the MP Tourist Guide Competition and announced upcoming initiatives like a photography competition and employment fairs. Under the National Vayoshree Scheme, over 2,000 differently-abled individuals from Kashi received assistive devices, funded through CSR by HUDCO and IDBI. Modi personally distributed aids to selected beneficiaries.

Appreciation for Kashi Tamil Sangamam Efforts
Recalling his recent visit to Tamil Nadu, Modi spoke about his visit to the thousand-year-old Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, built by Rajendra Chola. He appreciated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam initiative for reviving this ancient cultural link, mentioning that after 1,000 years, he carried Ganga water for the temple’s Jalabhishek, symbolizing unity and cultural integration.

The event witnessed the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Ministers of other states connected virtually, various Union Ministers, state ministers, and local representatives from Varanasi.