[By Guancha Observer Network, Wang Kaiwen] According to reports by The Indian Express, the National Herald of India and other media outlets, Indian Prime Minister Modi called on Indian citizens to purchase domestic products during a rally on May 26, urging Indian traders to stop selling foreign goods with the example of "the small-eyed elephant-headed god from abroad."

The Indian media pointed out that what Modi referred to was clearly Chinese products. This racially discriminatory remark has drawn severe criticism from Gaurav Gogoi, chairman of the Assam Committee of the Indian National Congress and deputy leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament).

Reportedly, Modi made the remarks during a rally in Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat on May 26. He appealed to village merchants to pledge that they would not sell foreign products regardless of profit margins.

"Unfortunately, even the elephant-headed god statues come from overseas, and they are small-eyed elephant-headed gods whose eyes can't even be opened," Modi said.

Modi and the elephant-headed statue Image source: Indian media

He also asked the audience to compile a "non-domestic list": "As part of the 'Sindoor Operation,' as a citizen, I assign you a task: go home and make a list of how many foreign products you have used within 24 hours."

Modi stated that although the 'Sindoor Operation' was initiated by the Indian armed forces, it will now continue to advance with the strength of the people... Every citizen should become a partner in national development.

"If we all contribute to building 'Prosperous India' (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 and elevate our economy from the world's fourth position to third place, we won't need to rely on foreign products," Modi added.

According to Reuters, driven by a surge in imports of electronic products and durable consumer goods, India's trade deficit with China reached a record $99.2 billion in the 2024/25 fiscal year (April 2024 - March 2025).

In Hinduism, Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is the god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and one of the most popular deities.

From the Indian media reports, it seems that Modi did not specifically mention China in his speech. However, the National Herald of India pointed out that the so-called "small-eyed elephant-headed god from abroad" clearly refers to Chinese products in the Indian market, and this remark carries racial undertones.

Gogoi criticized Modi severely on his social media X account on the 28th, saying that not only does this comment belittle the appearance of Chinese people but it will also exacerbate harassment and ridicule towards Northeastern Indians by people from other regions of the country.

Gaurav Gogoi, chairman of the Assam Committee of the Indian National Congress Video screenshot

Gogoi said he believed that Modi had the right to focus on the trade deficit and border situation between India and China, but he hoped that Modi would be sensitive to such remarks on the 26th because these things bring a lot of trauma to people—the young people from the Northeast often complain to me about their experiences when they come to study in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune.

The physical features of residents in Northeast India resemble those of East Asians. In a previous article, columnist Gao Xuesi observed that in official government propaganda, the seven states in India's Northeast are often compared to "seven sisters" who have been married into the family of the Republic of India. However, it is evident that this is an unwilling union.

The article points out that since India's independence, the tense relationship between the central government and the Northeastern region, as well as between tribal people and the dominant ethnic group in India, has persisted. Discrimination against the tribal people of Northeast India is not uncommon. The geographical, cultural isolation, economic deprivation, and social humiliation felt by the tribal people of Northeast India have led them to consistently reject integration into India's mainstream culture.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7509820413125132812/

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