The Congress on Friday opposed India signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, saying it will be the “third big jolt” to the Indian economy after demonetization and GST and will result in liberalising Chinese imports to the Indian market.
Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that there was a possibility of India signing the RCEP agreement. “After demonetisation and GST, it will be the third big jolt to our economy when the Prime Minister goes to Bangkok the next month and expresses IndiaRs s agreement to Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,” said the former Union Minister.
He said the Government was not talking about ‘Made in India’ now and the agreement will encourage ‘Made in China’. Ramesh said the balance of trade was heavily in favour of China.
“RCEP will result in the liberalisation of imports from China. We do not know what was discussed in Wuhan or Mahabalipuram but we can see the results, there will be liberalisation in imports from China. ‘Made in India’ is not mentioned now. ItRs ll encourage ‘Made in China’,” he said.
He said that managing director of Amul has written a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in which he has expressed concern and said that Indian dairy cooperative will be ruined if India proceeds with RCEP.
Managing Director of Amul has written to Minister Piyush Goyal stating that India should not do RCEP, else dairy cooperative would be ruined.
The milk will be imported from New Zealand, sugar from Australia, dairy products would be imported and it will also ruin our agriculture,” he said.
“India will accept the free flow of data under RCEP. The national interest particularly the national security has been removed from the draft RCEP,” he added.
The briefing was followed after Congress top met under the chairmanship of party chief Sonia Gandhi to deliberate on issues related to the interests of Indian economy which the party claimed were being “bartered away and sold openly” by the BJP Government.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi too were part of the meeting convened by the 17-member group of leaders set up by Sonia last week.
Briefing the media about the outcome of the meeting, former Union Minister AK Antony said India is heading towards economic slowdown and crises.
“Our country is heading towards economic slowdown and crises. This is the time for the Government to fully deploy all the resources for economic revival but instead of this Government’s priorities are different,” says AK Antony.