Decision of not signing RCEP by PM is in national interest: Shah

New Delhi: Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah on Monday said that India's decision not to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal was a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and unflinching resolve to ensure national interest in all circumstances.

In a series of tweets, Amit Shah said , "India's decision to not sign RCEP is a result of PM 's strong leadership & unflinching resolve to ensure national interest in all circumstances. It shall ensure support to our farmers, MSMEs, dairy & manufacturing sector, pharmaceutical, steel & chemical industries."

"PM Narendra Modi's firm stand over the years of not going ahead with a deal if our interests are not taken care off, is a welcome break from the past, where a weak UPA government ceded precious ground on trade and could not protect national interest."

Earlier on Monday, India had announced that it has decided not to sign the RCEP as negotiations failed to address country's concerns. 

"We took the right decision to not join RCEP in national interest. India participated in RCEP in good faith and negotiated hard. India has significant core interests that remain unresolved," said Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.(UNI)