Deal with China decisively, not with symbolic gestures, Congress tells govt.

(File photo) Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate

Taking a dig at the government’s decision to ban 59 Chinese smartphone applications, the Congress said India needs to deal with China decisively and not with symbolic gestures like banning apps with Chinese links.

Speaking at a virtual press conference Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said: “I think we need to deal with China far more decisively than symbolic gestures of banning Apps. One has to move away from these symbolic gestures. The tension with China is nothing like it has been in the past and it is of grave concern.”

“I think these are symbolic gestures, they are not going to cut ice with the country like China. We need to take more decisive steps, whatever those steps may be, we stand with the government of the day. But, I don’t think, the government can do away with banning 59 apps,” she added.

Shrinate also alleged that China has not only intruded into India’s territory, but also the economy as under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s watch, the trade deficit with China has gone up to $53 billion.

India on Monday banned 59 apps with Chinese links, including TikTok, UC Browser, WeChat and Bigo Live citing they were prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and security of the country. The ban, which comes in the backdrop of ongoing stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

On the Congress Party’s stand on the banning of Apps with Chinese links, she said while China is in occupation of our territory and there is serious intrusion, India’s retaliation after 20 brave hearts were martyred is by banning 59 apps.

“What about the massive amount of investment that China has done under the Modi regime,”she asked. The Congress leader said when Congress was in office, the FDI from China was $1.1 billion which has risen to $26.6 billion.

“There is massive Chinese intrusion even in our economy. Under Mr Modi’s watch, the trade deficit with China has gone up to 53 billion dollars which was just 36 billion dollars during our government. So, our reliance on Chinese imports have doubled. From importing Rs 3,000 per person from China, we are now importing Rs 6,000 per person from China,” Shrinate added.