The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Andhra Pradesh in-charge Aravind Singh Bhadoria on Thursday called upon people to promote indigenous products and support local weavers, artisans and manufacturers to strengthen the country’s economic self-reliance.

Mr. Bhadoria was speaking after inaugurating a Khadi fair here on the occasion of the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Mr. Bhadoria said India had a long tradition of producing textiles, food and other goods for domestic consumption and exporting them. He said the colonial economic system had adversely affected Indian industries by taking raw materials from India, manufacturing products in Britain and selling them back in the Indian market.

Recalling Gandhi’s promotion of Swadeshi and Khadi during the freedom movement, he said the movement had encouraged people to support indigenous production. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was promoting local manufacturing through the “Local for Vocal” initiative.

Party’s State co-in-charge Vanathi Srinivasan and Andhra Pradesh-Telangana organisational general secretary Madhukar also participated.

Ms. Srinivasan said Gandhi’s ideals should be translated into action and referred to initiatives such as Viksit Bharat and “Local for Vocal”.

She said Andhra Pradesh had considerable potential in handloom and traditional crafts such as Kalamkari and Srikalahasti handicrafts. She appealed to people to allocate at least 30% of their clothing purchases to handloom products.

Mr. Madhukar said Khadi had been given a new image and brought into mainstream fashion.

BJP State general secretary Nagothu Ramesh Naidu said khadi had gained wider visibility under the present government and that khadi fairs could help take the message of Swadeshi to the public.

MLC Pothula Sunitha and several other BJP leaders attended the programme.

“Anganwadi Utsav”

Meanwhile, the BJP Mahila Morcha organised an “Anganwadi Utsav” in Vijayawada as part of its “Seva Sankalp Abhiyan”. Anganwadi workers were felicitated for their services. BJP Mahila Morcha State president M. Nishidha Raju attended the programme.