New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday that the government's decision to impose ban on 59 Chinese mobile apps was a "digital strike" on the neighbouring country, reported news agency PTI.
"We banned Chinese apps to protect data of countrymen; it was a digital strike," Prasad said at a BJP rally in West Bengal today.
In a stern message to China, Prasad said that India favours peace, but at the same time it will give a befitting reply to those who cast an "evil eye" on the country.
The government’s decision to ban 59 mobile apps, most of which are Chinese, came amid the heightened tensions between India and China following the Galwan Valley clash that claimed lives of 20 Indian soldiers and the widespread calls to boycott Chinese products that followed.
Further, hitting out at the CPI-M, Prasad questioned why the party was not criticising China amid the ongoing border dispute.
Hailing the "strong" leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asserted, if our country has lost 20
soldiers, the toll is double on the Chinese side.
"Now you can hear about only two 'Cs' - Coronaviris and China. We believe in peace and solve problems through discussion, but if somebody casts an evil eye on India, we will give a befitting reply...if our 20 jawans have sacrificed their lives, then the toll is double on the Chinese side.
"You all must have noticed that they have not come out with any figure," Prasad, also the Union electronics and information technology minister, said addressing a virtual rally for the people of Bengal.
Recalling how India had responded after terror attacks in the recent past, Prasad, said, You all must remember how we had retaliated after Uri and Pulwama (terror strikes). When our PM is saying that the sacrifice of our jawans won't go in vain, it has a meaning. Our government has the will to deliver."
Insisting that India carried out a "digital strike" to protect the data of countrymen, Prasad sought to know why
the TMC was opposing the ban on Chinese apps.
"We are witnessing a strange trend in Bengal; the ruling TMC had earlier asked why we were not banning the apps, now they want to know why we are banning the apps. This is strange, why can't they stand with the government at the time of crisis," he said.
Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan had on Wednesday termed the Centre's decision to ban 59 Chinese apps including TikTok an "eyewash and an impulsive decision", and said the Union government should substitute them with Indian apps as the livelihood of many people associated with these applications had been affected.
He also attacked the CPI-M over its "silence" on the Sino-Indian border confrontation.
"I am surprised why the CPI-M has not criticised China. Is it the same CPI-M that it was in 1962?" he said.
Posted By: Abhinav Gupta
