Brazilian President Bolsonaro the R’Day chief guest – Controversy, Protests and Tax Cuts

Brazilian President Bolosonaro on his four-day tour is already stirring protests, and demands for tax cuts as he hopes to deepen ties with India

New Delhi: Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro, who arrived in India today to commence on his four-day tour, primarily as chief guest on Republic Day, is set to witness protests from activists.

Bolsonaro was invited as the chief guest for the 71st January’s Republic Day parade by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. The Brazilian President is looking forward to enhance trade and strategic ties with India. He is accompanied by seven ministers, top officials and a large business delegation.

Highlighting the visit of Bolsonaro, the Ministry of External Affairs said that, ‘This visit is expected to further enhance and strengthen the multi-faceted ties between India-Brazil.’

Controversial Bolsonaro

A former army captain – Bolsonaro won a landslide victory in Brazil’s presidential election in October 2018 and took the reins of the country in January last year.

However, it was his sexist remark that garnered more attention, than him coming to power in the South American nation. In 2014, Bolsonaro had told Brazil’s opposition’s Maria do Rosario that he would not rape her because she was not worthy of it. International media quoted him as saying, “I wouldn’t rape you because you’re not worthy of it.” On top of such a statement, he even refused to apologize despite criticism from all quarters. 

To add fuel to the fire, Bolsonaro not only repeated his comment against Maria do Rosario but also added saying that he would not rape her because she was “ugly”.

In 2015, Bolsonaro courted another controversy in the middle of an international refugee crisis. He called the refugees “scums of the earth”.

In another incident in 2002, when the then Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso batted for gay rights including marriage, Bolsonaro had been quoted as saying, “I won’t fight against it nor discriminate. But if I see two men kissing each other on the street, I’ll beat them up.”

Various social media channels – groups and individual accounts were bustling with protest posts on Bolsonaro’s visit. According to a post from Kolkata – an appeal was made to locals to join in a sit-in protest on 25 January, followed by a public march on the Brazilian Consulate on 26 January.

Brazil’s Appeal – Cut Import Taxes

Even before the official deliberations could kick-off between the two governments, the South American nation has started to voice its concern on India’s import taxes.

According to reports, Brazil has appealed to New Delhi to cut its import taxes on chicken and chicken products, so it can cash in on India’s never-satiating hunger for poultry and poultry products.

India imposes a 100% import tax on chicken products and a 30% duty on whole chickens, too high for countries such as Brazil to gain a foothold in the market, where the poultry industry is growing at more than 10% a year.

Brazilian Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias was quoted saying, ‘We would like to urge India to lower its tariffs on chicken and chicken products which are far too steep.’