Plea in SC seeks disclosure of India's trade policies with China

A Jammu-based lawyer has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court, seeking directions to the government to disclose India's trade policies with China. The plea said that MoUs signed by Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the Adani group with Chinese firms are against the sentiments of the people of India.

New Delhi:Amid the ongoing border tensions with China and the government banning 59 Chinese apps, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking directions to the government to make its trade policies with China public.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) said that though banning 59 Chinese apps was a welcome step, allowing few select business houses or few stakeholders from China sends a wrong message to the people of India.

"Security threat and national security policy cannot be selectively applied favouring some entity and discriminating others," read the PIL.

Jammu based lawyer, Supriya Pandita, filed the petition highlighting the MoUs signed by the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Adani group with Chinese companies.

According to Pandita, Gujarat-based Adani group has signed an MoU with a Chinese company East Hope Group to invest $300 million in manufacturing units of Indian ports. It proposes to set up manufacturing units Mundra SEZ in Gujarat.

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Calling the MoUs discriminatory in nature, Pandita contended that it is against the will and sentiments of people amidst the escalated tensions between India and China, which resulted in martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers.

"The MoU signed by the respondents with Chinese counterparts or the Government of China for trade and business is against the will of Prime Minister of India's own policy of Atmanirbhar Bharat," argued Pandita.

Earlier on June 29, the Indian government released a list of 59 Chinese applications which have been banned citing threat to sovereignty and integrity of the country. The government said that it has received reports which point to compromising with public data and privacy by these apps. However, the apps have been given a chance to submit their case to the government and clarify their stand.

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