'Won't Boost Economy Of A Country That Is A Threat To Us': Anti-China Sentiment Slashes Demand For Chinese Rakhis

Amid the ongoing tensions between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, the demand for China-made Rakhis ahead of the Raksha Bandhan festival has fallen and the customers are demanding Indian made rakhis instead, reports Hindustan Times.

The report quoted shopkeepers from several parts of the country as saying that the demand for Chinese Rakhis has fallen this year ahead of the Hindu festival.

According to the report, women are preferring India-made rakhis to the Chinese ones. The intention behind the move is also to boost the Indian economy by buying 'Made in India' rakhis.

“We always used to get Chinese rakhis. This year I am buying India-made rakhi," Aanchal, a customer from Himachal's Shimla, was quoted as saying.

"Why should we boost the economy of a country that is a threat to us? I would not tie a rakhi to my brothers which are made in China, the country that attacks our soldier brothers," she added.

Aanchal appealed all to only buy India made rakhis, which she said would benefit the local artisans.

Meanwhile, the local traders are also not buying or selling Chinese rakhis.

“Customers are refusing to buy Chinese rakhis. Their first question is whether the rakhi is Chinese or not," Mahesh Kumar, a shopkeeper said.

"Local handmade rakhis are selling. This would also affect the Chinese market, and benefit the locals," he said, adding that the money which used to go abroad earlier would now stay within the country.

The customers in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad have also said that they will only buy Indian rakhis.

"We are checking if the rakhi is Indian or not. We won’t buy Chinese rakhis at any cost. Be Indian, buy Indian,” Sanjana, a customer was quoted as saying.

Ajay, a shopkeeper, said that there was no demand for Chinese rakhis and only Indian rakhis were being sold.

"No one bought Chinese rakhi. We have got rakhis from Jaipur and Kolkata,” said Ajay.