Despite calls to boycott Chinese products following China’s vetoing the proposal to declare terror ideologue Masood Azhar as a global terrorist in the UN Security Council, the traders in the city continue to sell made in China toys, electronic and other goods. Chinese goods continue to inundate the local markets.
The traders told Free Press that it would be better if the government of India bans import of products from China. “If I would not sell a Chinese kitchen knife worth Rs 40, would we win the battle against China?,” asked Mohammed Ahsan, owner of MP Sale in New Market.
He also said that some parts of the Statue of Unity were also sourced from China and Chinese technology and products are being used in prestigious projects including the Smart City and Metro projects in several cities. Owner of Tours & Toys in New Market Sanjay Vadhvani said “Around 50 to 70 per cent of the toys sold in India come from Chinese, especially toys which have electronic components. When Chinese products are being sold in the entire country, how can a small shopkeeper like me keep away from them,” he asked.
Vadhvani added that they offer their customers Indian products first but if they insists on then we do sell sell them Chinese toys. “I want that Chinese goods should not be sold in India but the only way to do it is for the government to stop the import of Chinese products,” he said.
Prakash Music Centre is chock-a-block with Chinese mobile sets. “How can we stop the sale of any product? It is for the customers to decide what they want to buy. If a customer does not demand a product, we won’t sell it. If the people will boycott Chinese products, we will stop selling them,” said Bilal, manager of the store.
Hardik, sells mobile covers and other accessories at his outlet Perfect Collections. He said that he has not bought new Chinese products for the past 20 days but is selling the old stock. When asked whether people were in any way reluctant to buy Chinese items, he said it was not so. “No one has, so far, told me that she does not want a Chinese item,” he said.
Shakeel, a pichkari-seller said that 30 to 40 per cent of his stocks have come from China. “I had brought these much before the Pulwama attack and I will have to sell them. But I feel that import of Chinese products should be banned by our government as that it would benefit Indians and generate jobs for them. It is for the government to take a call on it,” he said.
‘Why should we provide China an access to vast market in India?’
China is creating problems for India at the border and in international forums. So, why should we help China by providing it a vast market in India? We have decided that no Chinese item would be sold in New Market during the Holi and Ranga Panchami festivals. In fact, we want that one by one, all Chinese products should be banished from the market.
Satish Gangrade, president, New Market Vyapari Sangh
