With Diwali celebrations almost coming to a close in the state, a local outfit namely Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) had started a campaign against Chinese firecrackers across Goa. They requested traders not to sell China made firecrackers for the sake of the nation.
“When you buy Chinese firecrackers, you are helping the economy of China. They support Pakistan which meant funding people who kill our soldiers,” the HJS Goa Co-ordinator, Manoj Solanki, said.
In addition to this, he said that the move served two purposes. “We refrain from supporting the economy of China and we are also saving the environment.”
The HJS requested traders to discontinue other Chinese products as well and go for “Swadeshi” items, Mr Solanki said.
However, a member of an industry body in the State believes the sales of firecrackers is an unorganised business. Therefore the campaign will not affect it. “Goa does not have firecrackers industry except a few families making them in South Goa, Mardol village near Ponda town.
Even those are disappearing as crackers are either imported from China or Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu,” member and former president of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Manguirish Pai Raikar, said.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in September 2014 said, “Possession and sale of fireworks of foreign origin in India is illegal and punishable under the Law… Various Fireworks Associations have informed that these smuggled items include the chemical ‘Potassium Chlorate’ which is a dangerous and hazardous chemical and can ignite or explode spontaneously.”
