UP Till January 30: CM Yogi Announces Swadeshi Rebate on Gandhi Jayanti
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Marking the historic occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a state-wide 25 percent special discount on Khadi garments and handloom textiles, effective until January 30, 2027. While addressing commemorative gatherings in the state capital Lucknow to honor the 157th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and the 122nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Chief Minister urged citizens to embrace Khadi as an everyday lifestyle choice. Emphasizing that Khadi transcends ordinary cloth to embody the core philosophy of Swadeshi and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), the Chief Minister highlighted that purchasing indigenous weave directly honors the hard work, traditional craft, and generational livelihoods of local rural artisans, weavers, and cottage craftspersons.
Swadeshi as the Bedrock of Developed India: Echoing Bapu's Vision From Local to Global
During his address at the historic Gandhi Ashram in Hazratganj, the Chief Minister drew direct parallels between Gandhi’s historical movements and modern developmental missions:
From South Africa to India's Grassroots: The Chief Minister noted how Mahatma Gandhi initiated his battle against apartheid, inequality, and colonial exploitation in South Africa before returning to India to transform a fragmented freedom struggle into a unified, peaceful mass movement that reached every village.
The Spinning Wheel as a Living Symbol: Yogi Adityanath emphasized that the spinning wheel (charkha) remains a timeless emblem of self-sustenance, forming the conceptual root of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Local to Global" campaign to elevate rural enterprise.
Expanding Markets for Artisans: The state's 25% price rebate until Martyr's Day on January 30 is calibrated to stimulate festival purchasing and provide steady commercial turnover for decentralized handloom units across Uttar Pradesh.
Realizing Gram Swaraj: Gram Sachivalayas and the Cleanliness Revolution
Connecting Gandhian thought with grassroots administrative reforms, Chief Minister Yogi highlighted key structural transformations taking place across rural Uttar Pradesh:
Sanitation Driving Women's Dignity: Millions of household toilets constructed under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan were credited with establishing baseline public health security and safeguarding the dignity of rural women.
Village Secretariats Fulfilling Gram Swaraj: The statewide rollout of equipped Gram Sachivalayas (Village Secretariats) was presented as the practical realization of Bapu's ideal of decentralized village self-rule (Gram Swaraj), delivering essential civic services, digital documentation, and local employment opportunities right at the village tier.
Cultural Gratitude: The Chief Minister reiterated that any society that preserves institutional gratitude toward its pioneering ancestors builds a resilient, forward-looking foundation for future generations.
Tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri: 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' Anchors Global Food Security
Following the commemorations at Hazratganj, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhawan to pay floral tributes to India’s second prime minister:
Exemplary Leadership and Courage: Reflecting on Shastriji's upright persona, the Chief Minister remarked that he exemplified unwavering resolve during national defense crises, consistently practicing what he preached without rhetorical exaggeration.
Transformation From Scarcity to Global Exporter: The iconic call of "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" united frontier defense with agrarian revitalization; while the nation once wrestled with external grain dependency, Indian farmers have transformed the country into an agrarian powerhouse that feeds 1.4 billion citizens while exporting food grains worldwide.
Dignitaries in Attendance: The commemorative ceremony witnessed the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan, Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharwal, UP Minority Commission Chairman Mohsin Raza, Regional Gandhi Ashram Minister Devi Prasad Sharma, Administrator Akhilesh Upadhyay, and litterateur Akhilesh Dwivedi.
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