Khadi can provide employment to crores: Modi

New Delhi, Jan 31 Khadi can provide employment to crores of people in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday in his first "Mann Ki Baat" address of 2016.

"Khadi has the power to provide employment to crores of people. It has now become a symbol and a centre of interest of the nation's youth," Modi said.

"Sardar Patel said India's independence is in Khadi, India's civilization represents Khadi, farmers' welfare is in Khadi," he added.

In his radio address, Modi also appealed to people to observe two minutes silence on the 30th of January each year to pay tributes to the martyrs of the nation.

"If the entire nation observes silence every January 30 at 11 a.m., you can imagine the energy that a single moment will generate. It should be made a practice," Modi said