RSS wing: Traders to gain from ban on Chinese goods

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 1

Amid reports of customs authorities at Indian ports conducting extra scrutiny and holding consignments from China much to the worry of Indian traders, RSS’ economic wing Swadeshi Jagran Manch has said “for long-term gains, one needs to be prepared for some momentary discomfort”.

“The pain will be momentary but will lead to long-term favourable situation and gains for the country. Besides, the government has not said it will not allow any Chinese imports. It only wants to help Indian manufacturers to produce more,” SJM national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said.

There was a controversy when Minister for Road Transports and Highways, Shipping and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari wrote to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal seeking early clearance of consignments of agriculture equipment from China.

Later, Gadkari said there was “no arbitrary stopping of goods” at the ports and the government was initiating path-breaking reforms to help MSMEs and make the country self-reliant. He also said his concerns over stopping of goods at Indian ports were “purely context specific” and that he was among the strongest proponents of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

Mahajan said the decision to hold on shipments was also correct. “There has to be 100 per cent check on all aspects if India has to reduce dependence on Chinese goods, which are not just ruining the Indian industry but are also cheating consumers by way of their inferior quality.