Indo-China stand-off impact: Assam residents boycott Chinese cuisine restaurants

For Deeksha Barua, manager of a restaurant located along with National Highway 15 in Tinsukia, Assam, things have changed a little bit after the Indo-China stand-off at Galwan valley. “People have started boycotting Chinese dishes. The impact of the stand-off has doubled the pain as we are already struggling to make the business survive after the landfall of coronavirus,” she added.

“We are aware of the ongoing situation and people's dislike for Chinese items. We can't say whether the rage towards China is the only reason behind less footfall as COVID-19 has also affected our business. However, we buy raw materials from the local market and our restaurant is completely Indian,” Deeksha told INSIDENE.

However, a few residents said boycotting restaurants is not a solution. “Not visiting Chinese cuisine restaurants is nothing more than stupidity. These restaurants have nothing to do with China,” said Aashish Goswami of Dibrugarh.

Also read: Assam: Is digital strike against China enough to push them back, questions former CM

Other restaurants owners also rued the poor footfall. Vinod, of a restaurant in Karbi anglong said people fear of getting infected.

Few others, however, said, people were opting for home delivery. Pankaj Bora of a restaurant in Sivasagar said the number of orders by phone calls or online platforms has increased due to pandemic.

“The customers’ footfall is comparatively less, but it is increasing with every passing day. As of now, we are receiving an average number of customers. Though we sanitize the cutlery and crockery using latest techniques in front of the customers,” Bora said.

It may be mentioned that the Indian government recently banned a total of 59 Chinese apps on the grounds of engaging in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India.

This was questioned by the former three-time Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 4th, 2020. He questioned the government whether the digital strike against China is enough to push back them. The reaction came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ladakh visit on July 3rd, 2020.

On July 2nd, 2020, Pasighat West MLA, Arunachal Pradesh, Ninong Ering wrote a letter to the PM urging the Centre to ban the Chinese telecom vendor Huawei Technologies Company saying that it poses threat to national security.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on June 30th, 2020 formally designated Chinese telecom vendors Huawei Technologies Company and ZTE Corporation, all their parent and subsidiaries, as well as affiliate firms, as “national security threats”.

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