‘Make in India,’ ‘Vocal for Local,’ and ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) have long been themes of the government’s push to strengthen Indian manufacturing. In recent months, the emphasis has further shifted to ‘Swadeshi,’ with repeated appeals urging citizens to choose Indian products over foreign ones.
But this raises the uncomfortable question: are leaders themselves leading by example on this front? Ironically, many central ministers are often seen using luxury foreign cars, imported goods, and expensive accessories—purchases that may well come at the expense of taxpayers.
The contradiction deepens when one looks at education. A significant number of central ministers, MPs, and even state leaders prefer to send their children to elite foreign universities—far from the Hindi-medium education they so strongly advocate for ordinary Indians. This naturally begs the question: how are such high foreign education expenses being funded? Given the official salaries of ministers, should not the sources of these expenditures be subject to transparency, scrutiny, or even audit?
The call for Swadeshi is noble and worth pursuing, but when paired with leaders’ apparent double standards, it risks being dismissed as empty rhetoric rather than genuine conviction.
