Labelling ASEAN countries as China's ‘B-team' unwarranted, insulting: Congress
The Congress on Friday hit out at Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for his remarks against the India-ASEAN trade agreements, signed under the UPA government, saying labelling these countries as 'B team of China' is 'irresponsible and insulting'.
Speaking at the India Global Forum (IGF) session in London, Goyal said, 'There was a point of time 15 years ago when we were more focused on doing FTAs with countries who were our competitors. So if I am doing an ASEAN agreement, it really is silly because (that is) opening up my market to my competitors, many of whom have now become the B team of China.'
'So effectively and indirectly, I have opened up my market for goods that find their way from China into India,' Goyal had said.
Sharma, a former Union Commerce Minister, Friday said in a statement, 'Piyush Goyal's statement terming the Trade agreement with ASEAN as silly and labelling these countries as B team of China is irresponsible and insulting.'
He said India and ASEAN countries 'have been engaged in a multifaceted relationship for over three decades' which is 'mutually rewarding and important'. 'This is an integral part of the Look East policy to deepen and diversify India's relations with a region economically vibrant and of enormous geostrategic importance…'
'The Commerce Minister should be prioritising strengthening trade relations with partner countries and not insulting them while bending backwards to negotiate a suboptimal trade agreement with US on its terms,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Tharoor on fresh diplomatic push, leaves for Russia
NEW DELHI: Days after wrapping up a multi-nation tour on Operation Sindoor, the Centre has assigned Congress MP Shashi Tharoor a second round of diplomatic outreach to countries such as Russia, the UK and possibly Greece, said sources. The Thiruvananthapuram MP, who left for Moscow on Friday, is on a two-week mission, said sources familiar with the developments. The mission aims to further bolster India's position among all-weather allies and to amplify the country's voice, said sources. During the two-week trip, Tharoor will be liaising with Indian diplomatic missions in various countries. His visit to Russia assumes significance amid the softening of the ties between the US and Pakistan. India has reasons to worry after Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, recently held a one-on-one meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House for more than two hours. Sources said that the government was keen on sending Tharoor for another round of diplomatic push as the all-party delegation led by him was considered as one of the most impactful ones.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Congress favours Hindi, but English opens new avenues: Ashok Gehlot
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said Congress is in favour of Hindi but English opens new avenues in the world for everyone. Gehlot's comments came a day after Home Minister Amit Shah's reported remarks on English. "Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi and all of us are also in favour of Hindi but English is an international language which opens new avenues in the world for everyone," Gehlot said in a post on X. "Home Minister Shah and many people of BJP-RSS are against English although the people of the country know that the children of most of the Union ministers are studying abroad and they confuse the people here," the Congress leader said. During childhood, we also used to oppose English but it has become the need of the hour, so we also changed our 'approach', he said. Today, in the era of computers, internet, Artificial Intelligence, the young generation can be completely successful in life through English, Gehlot said. The previous Congress government in Rajasthan established about 3700 Mahatma Gandhi English medium schools to promote education in English among the poor and middle class and rural areas. Due to this decision, about 6.50 lakh students started receiving education in English, he said. The Congress leader added, "The BJP government in the state tried to close these English medium schools but could not take such a step due to their popularity among the public."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Marans' legal issues family matter: Sun TV
former Union minister and DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran CHENNAI: Sun TV Network Limited has termed the legal notice issued by former Union minister and DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran to his brother and Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran a "family matter" and would not have any bearing on the business of the television network. In a stock exchange filing on Friday, Sun TV said the "alleged matter dates back to 22 years, when the company was a closely held private limited company". It termed the statements allegedly made in the news articles (based on the legal notice) are "incorrect", "misleading", "speculating", "defamatory" and not supported by facts or law. "We wish to inform that all acts have been done in accordance with legal obligations and the same had been duly vetted by concerned intermediaries before the public issue of the company," the company said in its filing. "The matters alleged in the articles does not have any bearing on the business of the company or its day-to-day functioning and being the family matter of the promoter are purely personal in nature," Sun TV said. In the legal notice, Dayanidhi Maran had accused his elder brother Kalanithi Maran of flouting all rules and allotting himself lakhs of shares of the Chennai-based Sun TV Private Ltd worth several thousand crores of rupees. He wanted the firm's equity structure to be reverted to that prevailing in the year 2003 and asked Kalanithi Maran to return all the monetary benefits accrued to him between 2003 and till date to the original promoters of the company, failing which he would seek the intervention of authorities of multiple probe agencies.
