Stop endorsing Chinese brands:  Indian traders urge Bollywood stars and sports icons

NEW DELHI: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has appealed to Bollywood stars and Indian sports icons to stop endorsing Chinese brands in India in the wake of the recent killing of Indian soldiers by Chinese troops at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

In an open letter released today to the Indian celebrities, Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Virat Kohli and others to stop endorsing Chinese products whereas, on the other hand, the CAIT has invited Amitabh Bachhan, Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty, Madhuri Dikshit, Mahender Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, and others to join the campaign of CAIT to boycott Chinese products under its flagship national movement ” Bhartiya Saaman – Hamara Abhiman”. 

The open letter further states that from the information available in the public domain, traders of the country particularly request Aamir Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Virat Kohli for Vivo, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Badshah, Sidharth Malhotra, and Ranbir Kapoor for Oppo, Ranveer Singh for Xiaomi, Salman Khan, Ayushman Khurana and Shradha Kapoor for Realme and all others who are endorsing any Chinese product to stop endorsing these Chinese brands as a mark of respect for Indian soldiers and at the same time invited them to join the campaign of CAIT.

CAIT National President B.C. Bhartia and Secretary General  Praveen Khandelwal in an open letter to celebrities have said that at a time when China’s army in the most clandestine manner has committed a “barbaric attack” on the Indian army at Ladakh border, the heart of every Indian is filled with deep anguish, resentment and abhorrence against the atrocities of the Chinese and their persistent attitude of antagonism towards India and to be a part of solidarity, the CAIT has asked one bunch of celebrities to stop endorsing Chinese products as also inviting another bunch of celebrities to join hands with CAIT to rope citizens of India to be part of the campaign.

The CAIT has set a target of reducing imports from China by a value of 13 billion dollars i.e approximately Rs. 1 Lakh crore by December 2021 with the cooperation of traders and citizens of India. Currently, the annual import from Chain in India stands for 70 billion dollars or 5.25 lakh crore of rupees.

Both Bhartia and Khandelwal sought the help of Bollywood and Sports fraternity of the Country for a boycott of Chinese products.

The CAIT while making an appeal to the celebrities to stop endorsement of Chinese products said that conducting any lawful activity for earning money is guaranteed by the Constitution of India but there are certain occasions when we have to leave certain activities for the cause of our motherland. We have a shining history of the number of such individuals who preferred the nation before self. The Country is passing through such a critical period-added CAIT.

Bhartia and Khandelwal said that It is a strategic move of the Chinese to rope in Indian Celebrities through Chinese Companies to endorse Chinese products in order to gain more and more control over Indian retail market by influencing the choice of customers through Indian Celebrities who command wide acknowledgment among masses because of their talent and caliber. 

On the other hand, the CAIT has appealed to various Celebrities like Amitabh Bachhan, Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty, Madhuri Dikshit, Mahender Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Sonu Sood, and others campaigned for a boycott of Chinese products and adoption of Indian goods by the consumers in the Country.

Both Bhartia and Khandelwal said, “We appeal Indian celebrities to shake hands with CAIT and exert their influence on Indian citizens to support the Government and Indian Forces at this crucial juncture with a motto of “Nation Before Self” and to propagate the feeling of buying Indian goods in comparison to Chinese goods. The nation will always remember their yeomen services rendered at this point when the entire nation is committed to giving a strong lesson to China. The Indian Forces will use the Bullet and the citizens will use the power of wallet to make the world know that Indian people can’t be taken as granted and the World will see the power of wallet now.”