Centre has to take a call on boycott Chinese goods: Hemant Soren

RANCHI: Amid the growing chorus for boycotting Chinese goods, chief minister Hemant Soren on Monday said that state governments cannot do much unless the Centre takes a stand on the issue. Of the 20 soldiers killed in clashes with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan valley, two hailed from Jharkhand.
Soren said, “As far as the boycott of Chinese goods is concerned, the state government cannot do anything. The Centre has to take a unified decision as the responsibility of guiding the nation’s economy is their jurisdiction. Moreover, after the imposition of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the role of states role has been reduced further.”
Raising questions on the Modi government’s foreign policies, Soren asked which other countries and commodities could India afford to boycott. He said, “We are suddenly talking about China because of the tension on the borders, but is our relationship poor with only one country? We are running into problems with Nepal and with others as well,” he said.
Soren said the Centre should be more open about the ongoing problems in the interest of the country and not resort to selective leaks by few a party workers. He said, “The government must explain to the people about the situation at the borders. A few party workers and some pro-government groups are doing this. Why are you (Centre) not talking to the people directly to explain the situation and blaming the previous governments. How long will you continue to pass the blame despite the high rate of joblessness, derailed economy, industries getting shut and so on?”
Soren also reiterated his government’s stand on the coal block auction for commercial mining. He said, “My view is simple: let us first discuss the interest and concerns threadbare, only after that we will be on board.”