Clamour for boycott of Chinese goods gains momentum

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 14

Clamour for the boycott of Chinese goods has gained momentum ahead of Diwali festival with several BJP leaders, including ministers and MLAs joining the chorus.

Health Minister Anil Vij today tweeted to appeal to people not to use Chinese goods.

Vij had earlier given the call for boycotting Chinese products after China blocked a tributary of Brahmaputra. “Whatever profits China earns by selling its products in our country, it spends on arms to be supplied to our enemies which are eventually used to strike at our soldiers. You can, if you wish, kill your enemy by a bullet or by simply boycotting Chinese products,” he said.

Besides Vij, several other leaders of the BJP and organisations associated with the RSS have issued such appeals. Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini said our own industry would benefit if we boycotted Chinese products.

Several organisations took out demonstrations at Bhiwani, Sirsa, Rewari and some other places requesting people not to buy Chinese products on Diwali. They also urged shopkeepers not to stock products made in China.

Social media, too, is agog with appeals against purchase of Chinese goods. Most of these appeals are from activists of organisations associated with the RSS. Shopkeepers apprehend trouble from members of such organisations especially during the festive season when they expect to earn profits.

The boycott call by a minister, an MP and some other leaders of the ruling party assumes significance in view of the fact that the BJP government had earlier this year tried to woo Chinese investors during its ‘Happening Haryana Summit’ held in March this year.