Boycott China products protests rage across Gujarat

Rajkot/Vadodara/Surat: Protests raged over Chinese products across Gujarat on Thursday after 20 Indian soldiers were martyred in Ladakh.
From students union to traders and ex-army men joined the protests in Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot demanding boycott of ‘Made In China’ products.
In Rajkot, businessman Mayurdhwajsinh Zala cancelled the order of MG Hector car and gave in writing that he did not wish to buy this car any more as MG Hector India is a subsidiary of Chinese Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).
Zala, who is the president of Gujarat State Panchayat Sports and Recreation Club, had booked the car from a showroom in July 2019 by paying Rs 51,000. He was asked to take the delivery of the car before few days back but he refused. “I don’t want to do any business or use any product that has direct or indirect link to China.”
Pankaj Brahmbhatt, owner of a Chinese eatery in Nizampura was so was upset that he changed the name of his food-cart on Thursday to Sainese Food from earlier Sai Chinese Food. Traders from Mangal Bazaar in Vadodara burnt Chinese products including phones, electronic items and clothes. “We have decided to stop selling Chinese products now on and promote Indian products,” said Jay Thakor, president of Mangal Bazaar Vepari Mahajan Mandal.
While BJP-backed ABVP held a prayer meeting for the martyred soldiers, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress workers burnt posters of Chinese President Xi Jinping and raised slogans against China near Khanedrao Market crossroads.
In Surat, a group of ex-Armymen paid tribute to the martyrs at Arya Samaj Bhavan in Gopipura and later burnt Chinese mobiles and posters of the China president Xi Jinping.
“We have taken an oath not to use any Chinese product. We will also spread awareness among the citizens to boycott all Chinese product,” said Manmohan Sharma, president of Poorva Sainik Seva Parishad.
Residents of Panchratna Garden apartment in Varachha also broke the China-made TVs and residents threw the TV sets from the fourth floor of the apartment in protest.