Khadi is more than cloth, says Amit Shah, credits Modi for revival

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday said khadi is not just a dress but a symbol of ‘swadeshi’ and ‘atmanirbharta’. He criticized the Congress, saying it neglected khadi after Independence and did little to promote it.

This was Shah’s second event in Rohtak on Friday, after inaugurating the newly constructed Sabar Dairy Plant facility.

Referring to the Congress’s long tenure in power, Shah said, “They did not pay attention to khadi and did nothing for its promotion. I feel that what work has been done in the past 11 years, had it been done continuously after Independence, our country would have never faced the problem of unemployment.”

At the ‘Khadi Karigar Mahotsav’, Shah highlighted Mahatma Gandhi’s role in using khadi during the freedom movement to fight poverty, promote self-reliance, and inspire swadeshi thinking. “The khadi mantra given by Gandhi gave momentum to the freedom movement and transformed the lives of lakhs of weavers,” he said.

Shah said that when Narendra Modi was Gujarat chief minister, he resolved to revive khadi. As Prime Minister, Modi used his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme to encourage citizens to adopt khadi. Today, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission’s (KVIC) turnover has risen to Rs 1.70 lakh crore from Rs 33,000 crore in 2014-15, providing employment to thousands of weavers.

During the event at Maharshi Dayanand University, over 2,200 artisans received tool kits, modern machinery, and Rs 301 crore as margin money under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). The event, organized by KVIC. under the Ministry of MSME, carried the theme ‘Swadeshi Se Swaavlamban’.

Shah emphasized that the idea of ‘swaraj’ is incomplete without swadeshi and one’s own language. He noted that many traders have pledged not to stock foreign products. “The ‘atmanirbhar’ and ‘swadeshi’ movement will benefit rural India,” he said, adding that khadi will play a key role in India’s centenary of independence in 2047.

He urged citizens to buy khadi products worth at least Rs 5,000 annually, highlighting that even small items like pillow covers, towels, or nightwear can promote self-reliance. “Besides boosting the economy, khadi benefits the body and helps poor families,” Shah said. While Shah criticized the Congress for allegedly neglecting khadi after Independence, historical accounts show that khadi did see support during various Congress-led governments, though its promotion was not as aggressively scaled as in recent years under the Modi government.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Ministers of State Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal, Haryana minister Arvind Sharma, BJP Haryana president Mohan Lal Badoli, and KVIC Chairman Manoj Goel were also present.