No appeal by PM for using only India-made goods on Diwali

Any such letter or appeal showing the PM's photograph or carrying his signature, is not authentic, says govt

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made no appeal asking people to use only India-made crackers, decorative materials and sweets during Diwali, senior government officials said on Saturday, terming as "not authentic" the messages circulating in this regard.

"No such appeal has been made by the PM," said the officials said in the wake of some commercial establishments displaying a "purported" letter of Modi.

"Any such letter or appeal showing the PM's photograph or carrying his signature, is not authentic," they said.

Sometime back, the PMO had tweeted, "Few appeals with PM's 'signature' are circulated on social media. Such documents are not authentic."

The officials said the Prime Minister has been a strong votary of Indian products and has often promoted the use of Khadi on various occasions but "no specific appeal related to the festive occasion of Diwali has been made by him."

The PM's "purported" message had even misled Pudducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi who had shared it on her twitter handle only to "regret" it later.

"Am informed that this is not our PM's message. I regret the post. However personally I prefer my own home grown products. Proud Indian...," she had clarified on twitter later.