Delhi: On Independence Day, a Chinese threat seems to be hovering in the sky. Only this time, it's not the fighter planes or missiles but made-in-China kites and strings that are claiming casualties. Kite sellers in the Capital are up in arms against cheaper Chinese products flooding the markets ahead of Independence Day.
Ahead of August 15, the Capital's biggest kite bazaar-Lal Kuan in Chandni Chowk-is flooded with Chinese items. The shop owners say these items are selling like hot cakes, hijacking the market for locally-created products. These Chinese streamers, made of synthetically manufactured tear-tough paper and plastic, have fancy designs, long tails and creative shapes, such as that of birds, Bollywood actors' cut-outs and jet planes, apart from specially-made-for-the-occasion Tricolour ones.
On being stretched, the China-made string gets razor-sharp, which leads to serious eye, head, hand, and neck injuries. A senior police official said, "In 2009, we had invoked Section 144 of CrPC against those using or selling the Chinese 'manjha'. But this year, no such step has been taken."
The Chinese string is already banned at many places. Authorities in Amritsar banned its sale and use after it killed a school teacher in the area, and left more than six people injured. The cut was so deep and sharp, doctors said it seemed as if someone had slit the throat with a 'kirpan'. The Chinese string has also been banned by the Gujarat forest and environment department. Apart from the other concerns, the ministry feels it also acts as a good conductor of electricity and "can trigger blasts".
Although being marginally more expensive, the Chinese string still poses a big competition to the Indian 'manjha'. One of the main reasons why people buy them is because they can easily snap the Indian 'manjha'.
"Those who are buying and selling foreign kites are traitors. They shouldn't be doing this, at least not on such an occasion," said Usmail Khan (67), whose entire family has sold kites ever since Independence. "Humaari rozi roti ke liye kaun parvaah kare (who cares for our livelihood)," said his son Maqbool (21).
In Delhi, buyers, however, feel there's no reason to issue a ban. "Chinese kites are cooler, bigger, cheaper and easier to fly. If safety is a concern, parents must take responsibility. Isn't the glass-laced maanjha as dangerous? There has never been a ban on it," said 19-year-old Karan Singh, a DU student.
Ahead of August 15, the Capital's biggest kite bazaar-Lal Kuan in Chandni Chowk-is flooded with Chinese items. The shop owners say these items are selling like hot cakes, hijacking the market for locally-created products. These Chinese streamers, made of synthetically manufactured tear-tough paper and plastic, have fancy designs, long tails and creative shapes, such as that of birds, Bollywood actors' cut-outs and jet planes, apart from specially-made-for-the-occasion Tricolour ones.
On being stretched, the China-made string gets razor-sharp, which leads to serious eye, head, hand, and neck injuries. A senior police official said, "In 2009, we had invoked Section 144 of CrPC against those using or selling the Chinese 'manjha'. But this year, no such step has been taken."
The Chinese string is already banned at many places. Authorities in Amritsar banned its sale and use after it killed a school teacher in the area, and left more than six people injured. The cut was so deep and sharp, doctors said it seemed as if someone had slit the throat with a 'kirpan'. The Chinese string has also been banned by the Gujarat forest and environment department. Apart from the other concerns, the ministry feels it also acts as a good conductor of electricity and "can trigger blasts".
Although being marginally more expensive, the Chinese string still poses a big competition to the Indian 'manjha'. One of the main reasons why people buy them is because they can easily snap the Indian 'manjha'.
"Those who are buying and selling foreign kites are traitors. They shouldn't be doing this, at least not on such an occasion," said Usmail Khan (67), whose entire family has sold kites ever since Independence. "Humaari rozi roti ke liye kaun parvaah kare (who cares for our livelihood)," said his son Maqbool (21).
In Delhi, buyers, however, feel there's no reason to issue a ban. "Chinese kites are cooler, bigger, cheaper and easier to fly. If safety is a concern, parents must take responsibility. Isn't the glass-laced maanjha as dangerous? There has never been a ban on it," said 19-year-old Karan Singh, a DU student.
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