Indians need to use local products to stop dependency on China: Goa BJP prez

Ind need to purchase and create a buzz about India-made products, so that they develop a global footprint and dependency on China-made products is reduced, Goa BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said on Wednesday.

The state BJP president however ducked a media query about whether the practice of exporting iron ore mined in Goa, to China should be stopped in view of the prevailing tension on the India-China border, which has resulted in several casualties on both sides.

"If we need to brand our product, we need to use it over and over again and start talking about it," Tanavade said, while speaking about the need to stop the purchase and use of Chinese-made products in India.

"If India needs to make global products, we need to first purchase and use Indian products and start talking about it in order to create a buzz. Once 130 crore people in India use these products, our products will automatically become global," Tanavade said.

When asked if the current export of iron ore from Goa to China should be stopped in view of the escalated border tension, Tanavade did not commit to an answer. "Export and import is up to the government. They will decide," the state BJP president said.

Steel mills in China account for a bulk of the exported iron ore from Goa. Currently, while iron ore extraction is banned following a Supreme Court order, ore which is already extracted and stacked alongside the iron ore mines, is being exported to several countries including China.

( With inputs from IANS )