After the face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, Union Minister as Athawale has called for Chinese food ban nationwide. Tensions between India and China escalated, following a clash between the border troops of the two Asian neighbours in the late night of 15th June, during which at least 20 Indian Army soldiers were allegedly killed.
However, the exact casualties on the other side are yet to be known. In the biggest confrontation between the armies of two nations in over five decades, the call for boycotting Chinese products has emerged from several sections of the society, including politicians.
Earlier in the day, Indian intelligence agencies had red-flagged 52 Chinese apps, including Zoom and TikTok, over data security concerns. Athawale, who had earlier come up with the “go corona, corona go” slogan to ward off the Covid-19 pandemic, soon called for banning of the Chinese foods. “China is a deceitful country. India should boycott all its goods. Their foods and hotels should be closed in India,” the Union minister said while addressing the reporters during a press conference in Delhi. Though, his call invited criticisms on social media on Thursday, with many users pointing out that it is the Indians who prepare Chinese foods in the country, not the neighbour country’s people.
“Restaurants, selling chinese foods, should be banned. I appeal to the people to boycott their food,” Athawale later added. After his statement, RPI (A) workers started protesting outside Chinese restaurants and stores. Meanwhile, the central govt has decided to rule out the use of Chinese equipments in the upgradation of BSNL 4G.
