BJP led coalition government kicked off a fresh round of reforms in the trade sector by freeing 894 items from Quantitative restricting. Govt. of India has also announced the decanalising the import of 116 items and announcing the setting up of free trade zones from July 1 this year. The items freed include a wide range of consumer products including home appliance, electronic goods, leather and travel goods, various fruits and vegetables, yogurts, butter milk etc. The annual Exim policy is a continuing step for further liberalisation of imports. The Economists, Politicians and administrators firmly believe that the indiscriminate opening of imports will worsen the trade balance and have very serious adverse effects for agriculture & domestic industry. More than half the items forced from import restricting comprise agricultural products including vegetables, fruits and crops grown in India. Even milk and marine products have not be spared.

These steps for more opening up of national economy can only be labelled as suicidal and destructive. The policy of freeing the restricted items is only to appease the multinational and G-7 countries. The accepted fact is that International players have superior technology and financial muscle and that have enough capacity to destroy India's manufacturing Industry, we should understand that the continuing import policy is affecting the industrial base and employment of our country. During Congress regime there have been sounding of alarm bells through Manmohan Singh's economic reform but now we are really feeling the touch of fire which will destroy us in near future. Union Govt. should realise the real situation of the country and withdraw the newly announced suicidal policy before its implementation.

^{5th April 1999.}