The volume of sale of Chinese goods plummeted in the markets of Dehradun during the Dussehra festival following call by a traders’ body to boycott such goods in view of China playing a hostile role towards India vis-a-vis the tension in the borders.
The shopkeepers, trading from different markets in the city, say that the volume of sale would not pick up during the Deepawali too with the youngsters shunning the Chinese goods.
A shopkeeper found selling Chinese goods at Tehsil Chowk said that the sale of Chinese goods had just halved as compared to last year’s sale during the Dussehra festival. “School and college students, in particular, are shunning such goods, apparently motivated by the anti-Chinese goods propaganda unleashed by some outfits following China lending support to Pakistan in the aftermath of the surgical strike.
However, it is difficult to say how long the nationalistic spirit would endure. I doubt whether it would persist till the Deepawali. Don’t forget that the China-made items from decorative lights used for Deepawali festivities to other decors cost much less than those made in India.
It is interesting to see whether the people would opt for the indigenous items at the expense of the much cheaper Chinese ones,” he said, adding that he was at the receiving end of the propaganda against the China-made goods, the margin of profit having declined with the China-made goods remaining mostly untouched.
Ashish Barthwal, a student studying in Class XI in a Dehradun-based public school, said emphatically that he along with his friends have resolved to stay away from purchasing Chinese items like electronic goods, toys and crackers.
“We cannot betray the cause of the country engaged in a grim war against terror perpetrated by Pakistan assisted by China. The country comes first when there is option available to go for India-made goods, no matter how expensive they are,” he said.