Traders, shoppers boycott Chinese stuff, promote local

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 3

Covid taking a break and no to Chinese goods — these are the two main differences in the local markets that are decked up for Diwali here this season. Even as the markets are still to come out of the pandemic shadow, the traders and shoppers are boycotting the Chinese items and promoting the local stuff.

May it be candles, diyas, rangoli colours or electric items like fancy lights, toys and other decorative stuff, maximum variety this time on sale in the local markets is made in India and not Chinese, unlike the variety of goods sold during previous years.

The markets in the industrial hub of the state, which are famous for the sale of festive shopping, are abuzz with the local made items this time.

“In view of the Indo-China border standoff and in order to promote the Make in India campaign, we have decided to shun the Chinese items and go for Indian goods this Diwali,” said a leading supplier of toys, Rakesh Kumar.

A leading departmental store owner, Amit Kumar, said almost 90 per cent of the Diwali sale items this time in his store are made in India.

“Only a few items which were not available in the local market or comparatively costlier are from China,” claimed Gurjit Singh, who has been selling decorative items here for the past several decades.

Rashmi, a shopper at the electronics store, said she has bought a local made mixer grinder for Diwali instead of that made in China.

“Until and unless, we all join our hands and pledge to promote Make in India, our local manufacturers can never compete with the Chinese makers,” local general merchants’ union leader Ashok Kumar said.

Crackers also local

Most of the crackers on sale in the local markets are also local made and not Chinese stuff. Though the stock and sale of crackers is comparatively very less as compared to previous years, the maximum fast moving items are made in India.

The district administration has allowed 37 applicants to sell the crackers as per the laid down guidelines at six different locations in the city.

The administration has also earmarked the places for the sale of crackers. These include 13 at the grain market, near Jalandhar bypass, five at Model Town Extension, four at Dugri, Phase II, near Dugri police station, nine at GLADA ground on Chandigarh Road, three at Chaara Mandi in Haibowal on the Hambran road and three in a ground near the Lodhi Club road.

DC, CP extend greetings

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma and Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar have extended Diwali greetings to the residents of the district.

“All the residents must come forward and make a firm resolve to celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali,” exhorted the DC, while hoping that this Diwali would once again bring peace, prosperity and happiness to the people, besides strengthening the bonds of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood amongst them.

The CP appealed to the people to celebrate the festival of lights with traditional fervour and gaiety rising above the petty considerations of caste, colour and creed thereby cementing the bonds of communal harmony, national integration and universal brotherhood.