Why is BJP-led Centre allowing imports from China when it is attacking India? Kejriwal asks

Instead of 'punishing' China, the Modi government is 'rewarding Beijing' by allowing high volumes of imports, he alleged

Bringing the Union government in the line of fire on India-China border clashes, AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed people to boycott Chinese products while alleging that the BJP dispensation is "rewarding" Beijing instead of "punishing" it by increasing imports from there.

Addressing the AAP National Council meeting here, he also asked the government to "show courage and respect for our soldiers" while saying that he does not understand why the ruling BJP cannot adopt an "eye to eye" approach in dealing with China.

In comments that came against the backdrop of recent clashes in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang, Kejriwal said China is being rewarded with an increase in trade volumes while India's soldiers are bravely tackling Chinese aggression even by sacrificing their lives. But the BJP government claims everything is alright, he said.

Read | Indian Army remains prepared for all military contingencies, says Govt

"Don't you have any respect for our soldiers? Show some courage. China will come to its senses if India stops imports," he said, adding that the Chinese imports have now touched 95 billion dollars.

"We should tell China that we will not buy from them. Our soldiers are giving their lives to protect India but we are buying things from them. Is there no value to the lives of our soldiers?" he said.

He said India imports toys, clothes and sandals among other things but can't Indians manufacture these.

"The reasoning is that the Chinese articles are cheap. We do not want Chinese products even if it is cheap. We are ready to buy made-in-India products even if it costs us double," he said.

Kejriwal was also critical of the way central investigating agencies like ED and CBI are working. He claimed industrialists and high net worth individuals are leaving India because the BJP government is not letting them work and sending ED and CBI after them.

Kejriwal also said people are fed up with rising inflation and unemployment under BJP government at the Centre. He claimed the AAP government in Delhi has shown how inflation can be contained and jobs can be created.

Asserting that AAP is the vehicle to bring change and make India a nation where nobody fights over religion and caste, he said AAP has become a national party within ten years of its formation.

Riding on the latest performance in Gujarat Assembly elections, he expressed confidence that AAP will form government in the state in 2027.