Trader Lobby Groups CAIT And SJM Call For A Boycott Of Chinese Goods

Usually every year, Indian social media enthusiasts talk about boycotting chinese goods and supporting local traders on Holi and Diwali. This year, social media platforms are abuzz with calls to boycott of chinese goods, but for completely different reasons, even though the festival of colours is also on the way.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and RSS’ economic wing Swadeshi Jagran Manch have announced their boycott against the chinese goods to show their anger against China which placed a “technical hold” on the request in the UN by India to blacklist the head of a Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.

“The time has come when China should suffer due to its proximity with Pakistan,” CAIT said in a statement. “CAIT has launched a national campaign to boycott Chinese goods among the trading community of the country, calling the traders not to sell or buy Chinese goods.”

Ashwani Mahajan, a leader of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, took to Twitter to say that, “Now the time has come to withdraw most favoured nation (MFN) status from China, as your govt has already done in the case of Pakistan and impose restrictions on China products, especially telecom and electronics, defence equipment on security concerns.”

This is the fourth instance by China putting on hold the bid to against Masood Azhar, whose JeM had taken the responsibility of the suicide attack in Pulwama, Kashmir, on February 14 where 40 CRPF officers were martyred.

In response India struck back on February 26 by leading a surgical strike in Pakistan’s Balakot area led by Indian Air force which claimed it destroyed JeM terror base in the city. The diplomatic tensions continued as IAF wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman was taken hostage by the Pakistan Army, and returned to India after two days.

With the standoff between Pakistan and India yet to thaw, China’s bid to support Masood Azhar hasn’t sit too well with Indians. In a statement, CAIT, which represents 70 Mn traders, said it would burn Chinese goods on March 19 to “teach a lesson” to China.