Munish Sood
MANDI: The Himachal Pradesh unit of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) organised a press conference in Mandi on Tuesday (August 8, 2025) to intensify its nationwide initiative — the Swadeshi Security and Self-Reliance Campaign.
The event was chaired by Anupama Singh, Swadeshi Research Coordinator for Himachal Pradesh, who emphasised the urgent need to adopt indigenous products and reject economic models that weaken India’s sovereignty and self-reliance.
Prominent regional representatives, including Hem Raj Pathania (prant sampark pramukh), Jaswant Singh, Vivek Anand, Joginder Chauhan, Rajni and Pushpa were also present and voiced their collective support for the campaign.
Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call to promote swadeshi (indigenous) products, Anupama Singh said, “Buying and selling local products is not just a choice, but a true service to the nation.”
Push for national economic sovereignty amid global uncertainty
Since its inception in 1991, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch has been a strong proponent of a self-reliant Indian economy. In the current global environment, marked by economic protectionism, manipulation of global supply chains and aggressive dumping of cheap goods, the campaign repositions swadeshi as a strategic necessity for national resilience.
“The global economic system is no longer neutral. Countries like China are flooding markets with substandard goods, destroying domestic manufacturing and jobs in developing countries like India,” Anupama Singh observed.
India’s growing trade deficit with China raises alarm
One of the most pressing concerns discussed during the event was India’s expanding trade deficit with China, now approaching $99.2 billion. The influx of inexpensive Chinese goods, often of poor quality, is damaging India’s MSME sector and weakening its manufacturing base.
“Why should we, as consumers, continue to fund a regime that threatens our borders and destabilises our industries?” Anupama Singh questioned, referring to China’s geopolitical aggressions and its economic influence in Indian markets.
The press conference also highlighted how India’s success in developing and manufacturing its own COVID-19 vaccine demonstrates the country’s capability to become self-reliant in critical sectors. Examples from defence, space and digital infrastructure were cited as additional proof that India can lead globally through indigenous innovation.
A major concern raised was the unchecked expansion of foreign e-commerce giants like Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart. The SJM likened these corporations to the East India Companies of the 21st century, accusing them of monopolistic practices that threaten India’s traditional retail ecosystem.
“These companies are not just digital platforms but unregulated empires lobbying for policy changes that favour global corporations over Indian entrepreneurs,” the panel stated.
Policy demands and public appeal
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch issued the following demands to the Indian government:
• Impose strict regulatory controls on Chinese imports.
• Re-examine free trade agreements to safeguard national economic interests.
• Regulate e-commerce giants’ warehousing practices, pricing strategies, and preferential seller models.
• Prohibit the sale of private-label products by platform owners to ensure a level playing field.
The platform also called upon citizens to reject excessive foreign dependency — be it in education, consumer goods or digital services — and instead support local artisans, manufacturers and service providers.
Call to make India great again
Reinforcing the Prime Minister’s vision to “Make India Great Again”, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch emphasised that the campaign is not about economic isolation but about responsible globalisation rooted in national interest.
“Swadeshi is about choosing employment over exploitation, production over passive consumption, and dignity over dependence,” said Anupama Singh.
The organisation urged all Indian citizens to join the Swadeshi Security and Self-Reliance Campaign, asserting that every conscious purchasing decision has the power to shape India’s economic future.
