On Dhanteras, PM Modi’s fresh push to be ‘Vocal for Local’; says make Diwali about 140 cr Indians

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up his ‘Vocal for Local’ pitch on Dhanteras as Indians are expected to splurge thousands of crores to mark the auspicious occasion. BC Bhartia, the national president of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), and Praveen Khandelwal, the secretary general of the organisation, have predicted the estimated trade volume on Dhanteras to be Rs 50,000 crore this year.

Responding to Biocon head Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s post lauding the initiative to support India-made festive ware, he reiterated on November 10 that this Diwali should be about honouring and celebrating the hard work of 140 crore Indians and being “vocal” for locally produced goods is the way to go about it.

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Modi wrote on social media platform X, “Indeed, let’s make this Diwali about the hard work of 140 crore Indians. It is due to the creativity and relentless spirit of entrepreneurs that we can be #VocalForLocal and further India’s progress. May this festival herald an Aatmanirbhar Bharat!” Urging all Indians to boost the sale of locally-made items during the festival, he had said earlier this week that people who are supporting the ‘Vocal for Local’ mission, should post selfies with it on the NaMo app.

He said: “This Diwali, let us celebrate India’s entrepreneurial and creative spirit with #VocalForLocal threads on the NaMo app. Buy products that have been made locally and then post a selfie with the product or the maker on the NaMo App.”