Chinese Firms To Lose Business From India In Railways, Telecom Post Violent Face-Off In Ladakh
India shows the door to a Chinese firm given a railways contract. The economic backlash against China comes after June 15-16’s violence in Ladakh’s Galwan leading to killing of 20 Indian soldiers. Public utility DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India) said it was ending the Rs 471 crore contract "in view of poor progress.” Four years ago, the contract to build signals on a 417 km freight corridor was granted to the Beijing National Railway Research and Design Institute of Signal and Communication Group Co. Ltd. DFCCIL, which is under the railways ministry, on June 18 said in four years, the Chinese company has been able to complete only 20 per cent of the project. Reportedly, at least four other Chinese firms, which are involved in various railways' projects, also stand to lose business. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has also firmly decided to tell Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) not to use Chinese equipment in its up-gradation to 4G network, as per ANI. Chinese companies face a public backlash after the worst clash since 1967 between China & India, where anti-Chinese sentiment is already strong. Beijing has also come under fire over the COVID-19 outbreak, with social media campaigns urging Indians to boycott Chinese products.