The projects were finalized at the recent “Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0” investor meeting. (File)
Mumbai:
The government of Uddhav Thackeray in Maharashtra suspended three projects signed with Chinese companies a few days after the confrontation between India and China in Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
The projects, with proposed investments worth more than 5,000 crore rupees, were finalized at the recent “Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0” investor meeting held just before the border fight.
“Yes, the decision was made after consultation with the center. We have suspended projects and are awaiting further directives from the center,” Maharashtra industry minister Subhash Desai told GalacticGaming.
The conference was held last Monday by videoconference and brought together Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong. It was an attempt to revive the economy of Maharashtra. A dozen memoranda of understanding have been signed with countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore and the United States.
On the same day, a deadly fight broke out between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh. 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the line of duty. The incident led to nationwide calls to boycott Chinese products and protests.
Of the 12 MoU agreed at the Maharashtra investor event, three were with China – a project with Hengli engineering worth Rs 250 crore, one with Great Wall Motors worth Rs 3,770 and a project with electromobility PMI worth 1000 crore Rs.
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday at an all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “India wants peace, but that does not mean that we are weak. nature of China is a betrayal. India is Mazboot (strong) not Majboor (hopeless).”
Bihar’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar, said at the meeting that all previous trade agreements must be reviewed “to ensure that Chinese products are not used.”
Many states are examining contracts with Chinese companies after the Ladakh shock.
“There is currently a feeling against China. The center should therefore develop a national policy on what should be done regarding the agreements with China. The government of Maharashtra has always expressed its point of view on nationalism. Even Uddhav Thackeray had expressed his opinion on nationalism was clearly expressed during the teleconference with the Prime Minister, “said Sanjay Raut, a senior official in the Prime Minister’s Shiv Sena.
