Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged citizens to support local products, reduce unnecessary imports and prefer Indian destinations for holidays and weddings amid growing global uncertainty caused by the West Asia conflict. Addressing an event in Gujarat, the Prime Minister said the ongoing geopolitical tensions have disrupted global supply chains and increased the prices of imported goods. He said India must respond by strengthening the “vocal for local” movement and reducing dependence on foreign products.
Speaking about the trend of destination weddings abroad, Modi said Indians should celebrate weddings and holidays within the country instead of spending large amounts of foreign currency overseas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "The moment the holidays begin, children are handed tickets to go abroad. The trend nowadays is to travel overseas—often for destination weddings. There are many people here who do not send me invitations anymore; they used to send them in the past because they would hold their weddings abroad, but now they are stopping that practice. This trend of destination weddings abroad is growing rapidly; however, consider the fact that this entails a significant expenditure of foreign currency. Ask yourselves: are there no places within India where we can spend our vacations, where we can teach our children about our history, where we can take pride in our own local sites. It is essential that we celebrate our vacations right here in India; furthermore—even when it comes to weddings—I do not believe there could be any place more beautiful or sacred for us than our own India..."
He further added, "When a wedding is held here in India, the very soil of our ancestors bestows its blessings upon us. For weddings, too, India offers numerous magnificent venues; we should choose from among them. In Gujarat, I would say this: you should now make it a point to hold your weddings right at the Statue of Unity. At every single one of your weddings held there, Sardar Sahab himself will be present to shower you with his abundant blessings. I urge you to establish a dedicated venue for weddings right there at the Statue of Unity..."
The Prime Minister also encouraged people to explore Indian tourist destinations and even suggested holding weddings at iconic locations in the country, including near the Statue of Unity.
Modi further appealed to citizens to reduce fuel consumption and adopt public transport and digital alternatives wherever possible.
"Today, I am reiterating my appeal in Gujarat as well, and I say this with a sense of right over you. I urge every citizen of the country to reduce the use of petrol and diesel, use the metro, electric buses and public transport more, promote carpooling, and ensure that more people travel in one vehicle. Those who have electric vehicles should also help others. Digital technology has made many things easier, and its use can be very beneficial. It is important that both government and private offices prioritise virtual meetings and work from home. I would also request some schools to consider online classes for some time."
The Prime Minister also called on people to reduce edible oil consumption and postpone gold purchases until the global situation stabilises.
"Not just fuel, a large amount of foreign exchange is also spent on edible oil imports. If we exercise restraint and reduce consumption, it will benefit both the country and our health. Similarly, a huge amount of money goes abroad on gold imports. I urge all citizens to postpone buying gold until the situation normalises; there is no need to purchase gold at this time."
Modi said India had successfully overcome challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed confidence that the country would also manage the current global crisis.
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