Latest news with #AshwaniMahajan
News18
26-06-2025
- Business
- News18
FSSAI 'Promise', Irked Sangh Affiliates: Double Trouble For Centre As US Pushes For GM Crops
Last Updated: New Delhi is deeply concerned about the US's insistence that India permit the import of genetically-modified (GM) products, which are widely controversial in India. As India and the United States navigate complex negotiations over a Bilateral Trade Agreement concerning agricultural products, a particularly sensitive issue has emerged – agriculture. The US aims to introduce its apples, corn, and soybeans into the Indian market. However, New Delhi is deeply concerned about the US's insistence that India permit the import of genetically-modified (GM) products, which are widely controversial in India. To date, BT Cotton is the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in India, since 2002. New Delhi's concerns are well-founded, with both legal and political dimensions. In 2017, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) assured the Supreme Court that no GMOs were allowed in the country. However, the following year, this stance was somewhat adjusted. In 2007, the Union Health Ministry had issued a notification directing the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) to continue regulating GM food as the FSSAI had not yet formulated the necessary regulations or had the required domain expertise. Consequently, the GEAC transferred nine applications for the import of herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant soybean and rapeseed oils from Monsanto Holdings, Dow AgroSciences, and Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds to the FSSAI. In August 2017, the Supreme Court instructed the FSSAI to create regulations and guidelines for GM food articles and to seek Parliament's approval for them. Yet, by 2018, the FSSAI was still in the process of doing so, according to its own admission. The current trade negotiations have hit a new hurdle with the US steadfast on pushing GM maize and GM soybeans, neither of which are legally permitted in India. Government sources suggest that any alteration in this stance could trigger judicial intervention and provoke the ire of the extensive farmers' lobby in India, who view GM crops as detrimental. Consequently, the government is cognizant of the significant political costs involved in altering the status quo for a trade deal. As discussions continue between New Delhi and Washington DC, this impasse might delay the agreement beyond the anticipated July 8 deadline, after which new tariffs of 26 per cent are set to be implemented in the absence of a trade deal. WHY WILL IT ANGER RSS AFFILIATES? Even the faintest hint of compromising on the issue of GM crops will first face opposition from within – particularly from affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), the RSS's economic wing, has been a vociferous critic of GM crops and foods in India for an extended period. Ashwani Mahajan, the Co-Convenor of SJM, elaborates, 'There are three reasons we oppose GM crops. Firstly, the incidence of cancer in the US is 350 per 100,000 people, compared to 100 per 100,000 in India, largely due to prevalent GM crops in the US. Do we want that? Secondly, our food exports, particularly to European nations that have banned GM foods, stand at $50 billion. If we permit GM crops, they will inevitably infiltrate our food system, jeopardising our exports. Lastly, there are numerous voices within the government against GM crops." Recently, a NITI Aayog working paper recommended that the Centre import genetically modified agricultural products like maize and soybean. Coincidentally, the US is also advocating for the inclusion of these GM products in India. In response, another Sangh affiliate, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), launched a vehement critique against the NITI Aayog, accusing it of capitulating to US demands. Mahajan adds that the Modi government seems to be standing firm on this issue. 'According to my information, the Centre isn't going that way, for which I am thankful," he states. WHAT ARE GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS? Genetically Modified (GM) crops are plants whose genetic material has been altered using biotechnology to introduce desirable traits. This modification is done by inserting genes from other organisms to improve resistance to pests, diseases, or environmental conditions, or to enhance nutritional value and shelf life. Unlike traditional crossbreeding, GM technology allows precise changes at the DNA level. While GM crops can boost yields and reduce pesticide use, they also raise concerns about environmental impact, food safety, and corporate control of seeds, sparking global debates over their adoption and regulation. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : FSSAI genetically modified crops India-US trade deal rss Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 26, 2025, 11:10 IST News india FSSAI 'Promise', Irked Sangh Affiliates: Double Trouble For Centre As US Pushes For GM Crops
United News of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Book highlighting contrast between public & private sector banks in NPA levels released in New Delhi
New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) A book highlighting internal shortcomings of public and private sector banks and stark contrast between them in terms of NPA (non-performing assets) levels was released here on Monday. The book, 'NPA Management in Public & Private Sector Banks in INDIA-Causes and Remedies', written by Dr. Amarjit Chopra, former President ICAI, was released at a function organised by the Bhartiya Vitta Salahakar Samiti. The author has pointed out in the book that internal shortcomings like poor credit appraisal, weak underwriting standards and ineffective credit monitoring, evergreening of loans and the external factors like corruption, political interference and frequent policy changes significantly contribute to the problem of NPA in banks. The author has also hinted at possible future areas of research in the area of banking, particularly relating to revival of various units after introduction of IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code). Renowned economists Dr Ashwani Mahajan, National Co-convener, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, and Prof Ram Singh, Director Delhi School of Economics and Member MPC of RBI, were the chief guests at the function. The function was also attended by M K Jain, Former CMD of Oriental Bank of India and Member Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority, tax experts Dr Rakesh Gupta, Dr Raj Kumar Agarwal and Gopal Krishna Agarwal, National Spokesperson on Economic Matters of BJP and Subhash Agarwal, MD SMC Group. The function was presided over by Neeraj Gupta, President BVSS. UNI RB SS
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Operation Sindoor exposed China, Türkiye as threat to country's sovereignty and trade: Swadeshi Jagran Manch
Giving credit to Operation Sindoor for exposing China and Türkiye as a threat to India's sovereignty and trade, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the economic wing of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), on Thursday (June 12, 2025) said that India must see this as a wake-up call to totally shun foreign goods and become self-reliant. While launching a pan-India drive to create awareness about manufacture and use of 'swadeshi' goods in Delhi on Thursday (June 12), the SJM also said that it will awaken people about domination of e-commerce websites like Amazon, Walmart (Flipkart), etc. in the Indian market causing heavy losses to local traders. Speaking to The Hindu, SJM's national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said the drive for mass awareness to shun foreign goods and e-commerce platforms is named as 'Swadeshi Suraksha evam Swavlamban Abhiyan'. The launch was attended by industrialists, traders, farmers and workers from across the country. 'Leaders present in the meeting expressed their views that today is the most opportune to start this campaign, giving call to all the citizens of India, to boycott use of foreign goods and services, and adopt Swadeshi. Under the campaign, call is also being made from traders to not to deal with foreign goods,' Mr. Mahajan said. He added that the participants applauded the grand success of Operation Sindoor in which Indian forces destroyed terrorist bases, airbases and depots in Pakistan with indigenously developed and produced defence equipment. 'It was also expressed that defence equipment developed and produced indigenously were far superior to defence products supplied by China and Turkey and used by Pakistan. The impact of the present trade war, which has changed the world order by destroying global supply chains, was also highlighted,' said Mr. Mahajan. He added that Operation Sindoor disrupted global supply chains and also exposed China and Türkiye as a threat to the country's sovereignty and trade. The participants decided to boycott the goods from the two countries and also create nationwide awareness urging people for the same. 'Given the scenario created by President Donald Trump's administration of raising tariffs, imposition of tax on remittances sent by people of non-US origin, SJM has also given a call to people of this country to boycott e-commerce companies like Amazon, Flipkart-Walmart and many others with foreign funding,' Mr. Mahajan said. He added that the organisation would request the Government of India to impose high tax on outflow of foreign exchange in the form of royalty, dividends, technical fee, outflow of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), based on the principle of reciprocity.
The Print
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
SJM to launch nationwide movement to encourage people to boycott foreign goods
The 'Swadeshi Suraksha evam Swavlamban Abhiyan' will be launched at an event here on Thursday, SJM national co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan said in a statement. The RSS affiliate also called upon the government to protect national interest while entering into free trade agreements with other countries and regulate e-commerce giants to stop them from indulging in 'predatory pricing'. New Delhi, Jun 10 (PTI) The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) on Tuesday said it will launch a nationwide movement this week to encourage people to use indigenous products and boycott foreign goods as it called upon the government to curb imports of Chinese products. He appealed to people from different walks of life including traders, representatives from industry, farmers, students and social organisations to become part of the movement to make India great again. 'The consumer must become a conscious citizen, not just a passive buyer. When one chooses a local product over a Chinese import, or supports an Indian platform over a foreign digital monopoly, one is participating in nation-building,' he said. 'We also call upon the government to curb imports of Chinese products and protect the national interest while entering into free trade agreements with other countries,' it said. 'We also call upon the government to regulate e-commerce giants, and stop them from indulging in predatory pricing, warehousing of their products being sold on their platforms, stop practice of preferred sellers and selling of products with their own labels; and uphold the law of the land,' it added. The SJM also urged the government to provide 'encouragement' to Swadeshi digital platforms and Indian MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises), start ups, like ONDC (open network for digital commerce) and support them. It called upon the government to protect and promote 'Indian electronics, telecom and other strategic industries'. Mahajan said India's freedom struggle was not merely a movement to gain political independence from British colonial rule but also an assertion of economic dignity, cultural identity, and civilisational sovereignty. 'The Swadeshi movement, born during the early stages of independence movement, was a clarion call to reject foreign goods, restore domestic production, and to rebuild India's self-sufficient economic ecosystem,' he said. He said political will, policy interventions and public participation in achieving 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in some of the sectors, have shown positive results. 'Today, more than seven decades after independence, we are once again confronted with a silent but dangerous form of economic colonization,' Mahajan said. The players have changed, the methods have become more sophisticated, but the objective remains the same: 'to dominate India's markets, control our consumers, weaken our producers, and deepen our dependency on them', he claimed. 'This new colonisation comes not with gunboats or viceroys, but through the digital manipulation of e-commerce platforms, the infiltration of hostile economies into strategic sectors, and the unfair dumping of cheap foreign products into our market,' he further claimed. Some of these 'dubious players' were exposed during the ongoing tariff war and recent Pakistani misadventure of attacking our territories, he added. 'China has long been India's biggest trading partner, but this relationship has become increasingly one-sided and dangerous. India's trade deficit with China consistently and currently reached 99.2 billion USD, with cheap and often substandard goods entering Indian markets, undercutting our MSMEs, destroying jobs, and weakening domestic manufacturing capacity,' Majajan claimed. 'Turkey, a country whose present regime under President Erdogan has made no secret of its anti-India rhetoric and unholy alliances with Pakistan and extremist forces. Yet, Turkish companies continue to invest and operate freely in India, reaping the benefits of our open market while undermining our sovereignty,' he added. PTI PK ZMN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
RSS affiliate rues surge in Chinese imports, calls for boycotting foreign goods
Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), the economic wing of the RSS, on Friday conceded that despite a call for boycott of Chinese goods in the past, imports from the country have increased. 'It is true that despite the patriotic public boycotting China and other foreign goods, imports from China have increased in the last few years,' SJM's convener Ashwani Mahajan said. The outfit blamed this trend on e-commerce platforms and foreign brands violating rules, apart from 'poor confidence' of India's business community in the country's manufacturing capabilities. Mahajan announced a nationwide campaign for promoting indigenous goods, which he sought to link with national security in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor. He said the campaign was inspired by PM Narendra Modi's call in Gandhinagar earlier this week that traders must take a pledge to not sell foreign goods. On Tuesday, Modi had made a veiled attack on imported goods by pointing out how 'small-eyed' Ganesh idols were coming from abroad. 'We must encourage village traders to pledge that no matter how much profit they make, they will not sell foreign goods,' he had said. Suggesting that this statement was in context of Chinese products, the SJM said, 'Our forceful retaliation to Pakistan's misadventure has also brought to light our friends and foes. It is a welcome decision to snap or reduce trade relations with those countries which have helped our enemy in this recent war.' India's imports from China have surged significantly in the past five years, with a cumulative trade deficit exceeding $387 billion from 2018-19 to 2023-24. India's imports from China have grown from around $70 billion in 2018-19 to over $101 billion in 2023-24, while exports have been relatively stagnant around $16 billion annually. 'The reason for this (surge) is that Chinese goods are also sold in India in a disguised manner; sometimes by removing the Chinese label and putting the Made in India label, sometimes by e-commerce companies and foreign brands violating the rule of origin and sometimes by importing from China in the form of intermediate goods,' Mahajan said.
