Alwar Traders Halt Turkish Apple Sales Over Turkiye’s Support for Pakistan
Jaipur, May 16: In a growing wave of protest against Turkiye's recent statements backing Pakistan, fruit traders in Alwar, Rajasthan, have announced a complete boycott of apples imported from Turkiye. This move comes in response to Turkiye’s condemnation of India’s military strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Earlier, marble traders in Ajmer had also ceased imports from Turkiye in solidarity with the national sentiment.
National Boycott Movement Gains Ground
The boycott of Turkish goods and travel has been gaining momentum across India. The protest is rooted in Turkiye's diplomatic support for Pakistan, as well as reports of Turkish drones being used by Pakistan during military operations against India.
In Alwar, the Fruit Mandi Union has officially banned the sale of Turkish apples. "More than 15 tonnes of Turkish apples used to arrive in Rajasthan daily between March and June. We’ve now decided to stop selling them," said Saurabh Kalra, General Secretary of the Fruit Mandi Union. "This is not just a business decision—it’s a message."
Posters, Public Appeals, and Strict Enforcement
Beginning Friday, posters calling for a boycott of Turkish apples will be displayed across Alwar's fruit markets. An awareness campaign will also be launched to ensure compliance. "Any trader found selling Turkish apples will be considered acting against national interest," Kalra warned.
The Union's Secretary, Pankaj Saini, added that alternative supply chains are already in place. “We are sourcing apples from Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and South Africa. Our cold storage facilities have enough stock to meet consumer demand,” he assured.
Call to Avoid Travel to Turkiye
The boycott is not limited to fruit imports. Alwar traders have also appealed to the public to reconsider travel plans to Turkiye. “Indians should explore other destinations. If Turkiye supports Pakistan, we will respond through economic means,” Saini stated.
Similar boycotts have been observed in fruit markets across Delhi and Mumbai, highlighting a unified stance by Indian traders in response to Turkiye’s foreign policy alignment.
This economic protest underscores the growing intersection of geopolitics and commerce, with Indian businesses increasingly taking stands that reflect national sentiment.
