India withdraws from RCEP, credit goes to Congress

Representing themselves as a forceful opposition and ensuring that any decision against national interest is not taken, the Congress on Tuesday showed us the true power of opposition in a democratic setup.

It was reported on Tuesday that India has decided to not join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. The reason cited was that New Delhi’s concerns were not negotiated in the deal.

“Today, when we look around we see during seven years of RCEP negotiations, many things, including the global economic and trade scenarios have changed. We cannot overlook these changes. The present form of the RCEP Agreement does not fully reflect the basic spirt and the agreed guiding principles of RCEP. It also does not address satisfactorily India’s outstanding issues and concerns In such a situation, it is not possible for India to join RCEP Agreement,” PM Modi said while giving a speech at the RCEP summit in Bangkok.

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Reacting on the same, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted, “A forceful opposition by Congress and Rahul Gandhi ensures that BJP government backs down from bartering the interests of farmers, dairy producers, fishermen, small and medium businesses at the altar of political expediency. A victory for all fighting for protecting national interests (sic).”

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had also warned against this decision.

“As if the government’s economic decisions have not damaged the economy enough, it is now ready to deal a body blow to it by signing the RCEP. This will result in untold hardship for our farmers, shopkeepers, small and medium enterprises with serious repercussions for the people. We can ill afford to become a dumping ground for products including agricultural products from foreign countries,” she said on Saturday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also targetted the Modi government over the same on Monday. “Make in ??” has become “Buy from ??”. Each year we import Rs. 6,000/ worth of goods from ?? for every Indian! A 100% increase since 2014. #RCEP will flood India with cheap goods, resulting in millions of job losses & crippling the ?? economy. “Make in ??” has become “Buy from ??”. Each year we import Rs. 6,000/ worth of goods from ?? for every Indian! A 100% increase since 2014. #RCEP will flood India with cheap goods, resulting in millions of job losses & crippling the ?? economy,”  he tweeted.