Swadeshi manch hails Centre’s move on RCEP

Tribune News Service 

Bathinda, November 6

Members of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), Bathinda unit, have hailed the Indian  government’s decision to not join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Notably, the Swadeshi Manch and various other trade unions across the country had been pressing the government from staying clear of signing the RCEP agreement citing losses to the domestic industry.  

In a press release, the SJM has stated that staying away from RCEP is a decision in favour of country’s small businesses, farmers, dairy, data security and manufacturing sector. The SJM thank PM Modi for showing great diplomatic farsightedness in terming the present context of the negotiations not in favour of people of India. 

The SJM believes that the RCEP would have undone various good works done by the NDA government under PM Modi in the last six months. The agreement would have harmed Make in India, Digital India, Skill India and various other avenues of job creation. After coming out of the RCEP negotiations, we request the government to review the faulty free trade agreements (FTAs) and CEPA done with Japan, South Korea, and other countries. Earlier, the SJM had applauded the efforts of Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister, of convincing the ASEAN countries to review FTA with them. 

Sanjay Sharma, promoter of the manch in four districts of the Malwa region, said, “The SJM thanks PM Modi for safeguarding the interests of farmers and dairy stake holders. The RCEP could have paved way for dumps coming in from Australia and New Zealand. This would have not only killed the opportunities for doubling the farmers’ income, but would have wiped out several job opportunities.”