<p class="p1">While Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have begun by talking about India's victory in the Kargil War and stressed the importance for Indians to take a pledge to gain independence from the current coronavirus pandemic, he very carefully yet strongly made a vocal for a local pitch in view of the ensuing festivities.</p>
<p class="p1">"Raksha Bandhan is approaching. I have seen that many people as well as organizations are running initiatives to celebrate the festival in a different manner. Many are linking it to 'Vocal for Local' and that is right," said Modi today during his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address.</p>
<p class="p1">In fact, Modi used the phrase "vocal for local" and championed the cause of a self-reliant India, in the aftermath of the complete lockdown to restart and re energize the nation's economy, in a post-Covid scenario. He had announced a massive economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore (equivalent to 10 per cent of India's GDP) with the aim of making the country "Aatmanirbhar".</p>
<p class="p1">Today, he said, "The joy of celebrating festivals increases when it helps expand the business of people in our society, in our neighborhood and it makes it a joyous festival for them, as well."</p>
<p class="p1">He cited examples of Madhubani masks from Bihar that took social media by storm as well as bottles made with bamboo, in northeast India, to make a strong pitch for everything indigenous, keeping in mind the brisk business done during the ensuing festivities.</p>
<p class="p1">Even in his concluding remarks, Modi urged Indians to take a pledge on the upcoming Independence Day, of attaining an "Aatmanirbhar Bharat".</p>.