Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said centuries of foreign invasions had halved India’s Hindu population and weakened its economy, urging citizens to push the Swadeshi movement for national
strength and unity.
Speaking at a state-level workshop on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi Sankalp, Yogi claimed the Hindu population, which he said stood at nearly 60 crore in the 12th century, had fallen to around 30 crore by Independence in 1947.
“The decline was not only due to killings by invaders but also because of hunger, disease and constant exploitation. This is what foreign slavery does to a nation,” he said.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, “…It is said that when Islam first attacked India, at that time, and even after that, by the year 1100, the Hindu population in India was 60 crore. And when the country gained independence in 1947, the Hindu population was only 30… pic.twitter.com/UePJotkiQc
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2025
The Chief Minister added that India’s contribution to the global economy was 25 per cent three centuries ago, but agricultural and industrial output suffered under colonial rule.
Without naming rivals, Adityanath accused some groups of continuing a “foreign mentality” by dividing society along caste, regional and linguistic lines.
Calling Swadeshi the answer to such challenges, he said the Narendra Modi-led government had broadened its scope beyond khadi.
“From a needle to a ship, from a pen to an aircraft, production is happening in India. Swadeshi is now a comprehensive vision,” he said.
“They’re dividing society, creating divisions. They’ll point fingers at this Swadeshi campaign in every way. But the Prime Minister’s message is that we should promote whatever is made with the labour of Indian workers and the talent of our youth.”
Adityanath urged citizens to embrace indigenous goods, saying every item made with the labour of Indian workers and the innovation of youth should be seen as Swadeshi.
“‘Make in India, Made for the World’ must be our mantra. It is time Swadeshi becomes part of daily life,” he said.
