Key Highlights
- The CAIT advises traders & trade associations across country not to use Zoom further as their communication platform
- Key Highlight 2 The CAIT has made it clear that it has used Jio Meet as an Indian technology but its well known stand on applicability of e commerce policy both on FDI backed e commerce portals and domestic e commerce portals remain firm
- This move is a part of CAIT’s “ boycott Chinese products” under its mission statement “ Bhartiya Saamaa
Mumbai: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the apex body of 7 crore traders of India, as a part of its boycott Chinese goods national campaign launched on 10th June 2020 has left usage of Zoom, as its communication tool and has adopted Jio Meet, an Indian alternative as its communication platform with the trading community across Country.
The CAIT is advising traders & trade associations across the country not to use Zoom further as their communication platform. However, the technology team of CAIT is assessing other available communication platforms other than having influence of China. The step is taken after several suggestions came from traders across Country and an in-depth study of the research team of CAIT which recommended that usage of Zoom as a communication platform can run against the interests of the country. This move is a part of CAIT’s “ boycott Chinese products” under its mission statement “ Bhartiya Saamaan - Hamara Abhimaan”
CAIT National President B.C.Bhartia & Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that "Our decision merits a cryptic explanation just so that all others in the country take note and consider the same. Zoom is owned by one Eric Chuan and has shown admitted vulnerability to wilt under pressure from authorities in mainland China. This startling fact, albeit followed by hasty claims on part of Zoom that capitulation won’t be repeated is part of the record.
They further said that the resultant implication on integrity of our own conversations and data in unknown hands therein is obvious enough. "We have no acrimony with Zoom or Chuan personally, but there is enough secular material available against the safety of Zoom, he purportedly owns even among trustworthy links of Pentagon, Military, VoA, WaPo, Guardian etc that merits our boycott. We have taken on board recent high alerts by CERT regarding Zoom (amidst assurances to the contrary) including asking government officials to stay away."
The association further explains, "till now, CAIT members were forced to stay on-board to Zoom due to absence of an Indian alternative. The CAIT began greater usage of Zoom from 25th March 2020, the beginning of lockdown period in the country and made it as its communication platform with about 200 prominent trade leaders of all states and also hold several town halls with about 1000 traders several times.
In the wake of current pandemic and restrictions imposed by the Government, now communication platforms are the best source for holding virtual meetings, conferences, discourses, seminars, workshops etc and under its mission statement, Bhartiya Saamaan-Hamara Abhiman", the CAIT has adopted Jio meet now"
CAIT has made it clear that it has used Jio Meet as an Indian technology but its well-known stand on applicability of e-commerce policy both on FDI backed e-commerce portals and domestic e-commerce portals remain firm. No e-commerce portal should be allowed to adopt predatory pricing, deep discounting, loss funding, controlling inventory etc. including an e-commerce portal "bharatemarket" of CAIT which will be launched before 15th August 2020.