Shoppers giving a go-by to Chinese goods this Diwali

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 27

The campaigns launched against Chinese products on the social media have badly affected their sale both in Jammu and Kashmir regions.

Shoppers are looking for Indian goods this festive season unlike the previous years.

Indian markets were flooded with Chinese goods in the past some years as people preferred them over Indian goods because of their wide range, affordable rates and smart look. But in the past few months, boycott campaigns launched on the social media like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter against Chinese products, with information trickling in that China is supporting Pakistan and funding its terror-related activities, the products are being replaced by Indian goods.

The boycott campaign has changed the mindset of people and the pinch is being felt by the dealers of the Chinese products in the country.

“It has become difficult to sell Chinese item these days. Customer straightway refuses to buy Chinese products and asks for the Indian products,” said Ramesh Gupta, owner of a toy shop in Pakka Danga in Jammu.

“As most of the toys are China made, our business is down by 60 per cent,” he added.

Seeing the market trend, some of the shopkeepers have stopped selling Chinese products. They are proudly advertising their policy against the Chinese products and getting good response from customers.

Saugaat Store at Main Chowk, Janipur, is one of the stores which is offering 99 per cent Indian products this Diwali and getting an overwhelming response from customers.

“The sale of Chinese lights, candles and other decorative products has slashed this year and people are instead demanding earthen lamps,” said Nikhil Khajuria, another shopkeeper at Janipur.

“I think the trend is good. Not only will this demoralise China but will also boost the Indian economy and culture,” he added.