Cong claims victory after decision over RCEP deal

New Delhi, Nov. 4: With India deciding not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Congress on Monday claimed victory saying its forceful opposition has ensured that the BJP government backs out from bartering the interests of farmers, dairy producers, fishermen and small and medium businessmen. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said it is a win for all those protecting national interests. “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),” he said on Twitter.

He said with “rampant unemployment, a sinking economy and deep agrarian crisis emanating from utter mismanagement of economy by BJP government”, ■

signing RCEP would have been catastrophic.

“The Modi government was pushing to sign RCEP without addressing genuine concerns and national interests,” he said. “India’s farmers and MSME’s had genuine unaddressed concerns about — circumvention of rules of origin to dump Chinese goods; absence of safeguards to prevent import surges at the cost of domestic industry; no assurance on market access for service and IT industry,” he added.

India on Monday decided not to join the mega Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership deal as negotiations failed to address Delhi’s concerns, government