After accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being responsible for the BJP’s loss in the Bihar Assembly elections, party MP Bhola Singh on Monday sharply attacked the NDA government’s “friendly” pol
After accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being responsible for the BJP’s loss in the Bihar Assembly elections, party MP Bhola Singh on Monday sharply attacked the NDA government’s “friendly” policy towards China. Cheered by Shiv Sena MPs and supported by the BJD in the Lok Sabha, Mr Singh cited the growing trade deficit with China to demand a ban on import of Chinese goods.
“That country (China) is the reason for all of our problems, and, yet, the government is pursuing good friendly relations. Trade deficit is mounting, while our industries have been destroyed,” Mr Singh said during Question Hour in the House. He asked why should India not ban imports from China and source the goods from other countries, who may address Indian concerns. “While we can show a big heart culturally and be accommodating to China, the same cannot be said about the economic and trade relations,” said Mr Singh.
He was supported by the BJD MP Tathagatha Satpathy. “China has smashed India’s small and medium enterprises as crooked importers are importing substandard things from China,” said Mr Satpathy.
However, Union minister of state for commerce Nirmala Sitharaman said that banning import from one country is not possible under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. Yet, she stated that the government has taken a few steps to curb import of sub-standard goods from China, including the mobile handsets which do not follow the norms.
However, Mr Satpathy countered her claims, saying he can go with the minister to Khan Market and “show her how Chinese mobile handsets are available in abundance”. “These are available in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and all small towns,” he said.
“We are not soft-pedalling, but we are examining things professionally,” she told the members, while adding that the trade deficit with China has been growing and the government is taking steps against dumping.
“I wish to inform that where reason and facts show that dumping is happening, safety standards are being violated, we have stopped imports,” she said. She cited the example of the import of Chinese milk products, which has been banned after irregularities were detected.
