New Delhi, July 6 Extending his support for procurement of domestic inputs for the steel industry, JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal has said the industry cannot make money out of cheaper Chinese raw materials at a time when Indian soldiers are getting killed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
"We cannot keep making money by buying cheaper Chinese raw materials for our business while our soldiers are getting killed at the LAC by them," he said in a statement on Monday.
Noting that several other industrialists are "upset as their business with China is important to maintain healthy margins and continuity", he said that the situation has come because of the sector's complacency in blindly accepting cheaper imports from China rather than developing the domestic vendors.
"This is an opportunity for us all to come together and push for a stronger Atmanirbhar Bharat. Let us support our domestic producers in achieving quality and scale. We have to show loyalty to our own products," Jindal said.
He added that the industry and the business fraternity have to support India's armed forces and the government in the fight against the Chinese.
The chorus for lower import dependence and more so from China, has gathered momentum as the border tensions have escalated in Ladakh, leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers.
The government has taken several steps to restrict the participation of Chinese companies in India from banning 59 Chinese apps to cancellation of tenders from China-based companies in several projects.
( With inputs from IANS )