Yoga guru and Patanjali co-founder Baba Ramdev has escalated his call for Indians to embrace swadeshi (made-in-India) goods ahead of Diwali, issuing a stern warning to foreign entities he accused of trying to exploit the Indian market. In unusually forceful language, he said that “whoever dares challenge Bharat, we will gouge out their eyes,” signalling deep frustration with what he termed “tariff terrorism” by the United States.

Speaking at a press interaction in Delhi, Ramdev emphasised that although India has become one of the world’s largest consumer markets, it continues to be vulnerable due to overdependence on imports. He linked this vulnerability to recent US tariffs imposed on Indian goods and appealed to citizens to shift their spending to domestic alternatives.

“On this Diwali, let our lamps be swadeshi, our decorative lights swadeshi, our gifts swadeshi,” he urged. “If we take this pledge, all powers will bow before India.” He claimed that the swadeshi campaign was already driving change and predicted that India could achieve developed-nation status by 2040—well ahead of earlier targets such as 2047.

Ramdev also sharply criticised the imposition of tariffs by the US, calling it economic coercion. He warned that unless India pushed back through consumer action, the country risked being “looted” by foreign interests. Earlier, he had already questioned trade policies, describing the US move as “tariff terrorism” aimed at destabilising trade balances.

His remarks arrive at a time of growing economic tension between India and the US, with worries over supply chains, trade deficits, and tariff retaliation. While the government has maintained a cautious official position, civil society voices like Ramdev’s amplify the pressure on political decision-makers to respond assertively.

Political observers contend that Ramdev’s rhetoric mirrors a larger populist thread—blending patriotic sentiment, consumer activism, and criticism of global economic imbalance. Some analysts say such messaging may resonate strongly in festive and rural markets, especially during Diwali, when consumer spending peaks.

However, critics caution that extreme language, even metaphorical, risks inflaming national sentiment and complicating diplomatic relations. They suggest the debate would be better served by strategic policymaking rather than symbolic threats.

For now, Ramdev’s message remains clear: in his view, swadeshi is not just cultural pride—it is a national imperative in the face of external pressure.