Ban Paytm, show some courage: Congress leader to PM Modi

Reacting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government's decision to ban over 59 Chinese Apps following the Galwan Valley clash with the neighbouring nation, Tamil Nadu Congress leader Manickam Tagore asked PM Modi to also ban Paytm, which has 29.71 per cent and 7.18 per cent investments from Chinese companies Ant Financials and Alibaba Group.

New Delhi: Following the Central government's decision to ban over 59 Chinese Applications across the nation, Congress leader and Tamil Nadu MP, Manickam Tagore asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban e-commerce mobile application Paytm, which has "massive Chinese investments".

"We have lost 20 Jawans and more than 50 sq km of our land amid a border conflict with China. Now, the Modi Government has decided to ban 59 Chinese apps. We were expecting a larger and more powerful retaliation against them. But if the government thinks that it is an effective way to fight against China then it should ban Paytm which has more stakes of Chinese money into it," said Tagore while speaking exclusively with ETV Bharat.

Soon after the Government announced the ban on 59 Chinese apps, the Congress leader tweeted the screenshots of a Wikipedia page, showing that Paytm has 29.71 per cent and 7.18 per cent investments from Chinese firms Ant Financials and Alibaba Group respectively. Ant Financials is an affiliated company of Alibaba Group, which is a Chinese multinational technology company.

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While asserting over his demand, Manickam Tagore said, "I only want to ask if the man of 56-inch chest, has the courage to ban an app with such a huge Chinese investment? In reality, PM Modi is the brand ambassador of Paytm itself. The pain of losing our 20 Army personnel in Galwan Valley clash will not heal by just banning small apps like TikTok."

On Monday, India banned 59 apps with Chinese links, including TikTok and UC Browser, saying that they were prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and security of the country. The move comes in the backdrop of the India-China border standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

Amid the growing demand to boycott Chinese products in India, due to India-China face-off, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi also attacked the Centre over Prime Minister's ambitious programme- Make in India, while showing a sharp increase in imports from China during the NDA tenure.

Alleging that the Narendra Modi-led Central government has increased the imports from China, thrice to what it was used to be during the UPA era, Tagore said, "This campaign has been run by the BJP affiliated organizations, especially RSS."

He further alleged, "When we see that imports from China have been increased in big quantum, under the BJP Government, they start such campaigns. The claims and actions of this government do not match."

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