Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged farmers to follow the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use only swadeshi (indigenous) products. He was speaking after unveiling the statues of Padma Shri Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil and Padma Bhushan Dr Balasaheb Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra. Minister Shah emphasised that India, with its population of 140 crore, represents a vast market. He stated that if citizens collectively choose to use and promote indigenous products, it would significantly accelerate the country’s economic growth. He noted that India is already close to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, and achieving the top position globally would require a strong commitment to Swadeshi.

The Home Minister also assured that the Central Government would extend timely assistance to farmers affected by heavy rains in Maharashtra. He mentioned that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar had met him to discuss the situation, and that the state government had been asked to submit a detailed report on the damages and losses. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Pankaja Munde, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.