The comrades may be acting as PR men for China. But they appear confused over allowing Chinese companies access to Indian market.
NEW DELHI: The comrades may be acting as PR men for China. But at the same time, they appear confused and divided over allowing Chinese companies unbridled access to Indian market.
While West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee wants a "cautious" approach towards Chinese investment, his Kerala counterpart VS Achuthanandan (Kerala) has been lobbying with the Centre for security clearance to two Chinese firms wanting to build a deep water transshipment container terminal in Vizhinjam in Thiruvanantha-puram.
Sources said Bhattacharjee, considered the posterboy of reforms, during a meeting with PM last month expressed concerns over China dumping goods in West Bengal via Nathu La Pass. Bhattacharjee instead of canvassing for the Dragon, appears to have stressed the need to adopt a cautious approach towards Chinese investment during his meeting with Singh.
Buddho, sources said, is not in favour of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). According to official sources out of a total of 182 anti-dumping investigations India has carried out till date, 80 were against Chinese companies. In the wake of concern expressed by various quarters on the perils of FTA, the UPA government, sources said, may propose an “Investment Protection Agreement” to Hu. The Chinese had recently approached India seeking Market Economy Status, but New Delhi is not inclined.
Even as the CPI(M) honchos were pitching for a ‘level playing field’ for China, sources said the Centre has declined clearance to Chinese firms to build the Rs.4360 crore port project in Vizhinjam. Politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechuri, however, denied that party’s West Bengal and central leadership were divided on FDI.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}