‘Boycott Turkey’ gains momentum in India: Traders shun marble, apples amid Ankara’s support to Pakistan

The hashtag-style call to 'Boycott Turkey' is no longer confined to social media outrage.

A nationwide economic backlash against Turkey is gaining traction in India, days after Ankara sided with Pakistan following the terror attack in Pahalgam and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.

The hashtag-style call to 'Boycott Turkey' is no longer confined to social media outrage. From marble yards in Udaipur to fruit markets in Pune, Indian traders and consumers are turning away from Turkish goods, saying business must not override national interest.

The sharpest blow comes from Udaipur, India’s marble hub, where the Udaipur Marble Processors Association has called for a total halt on imports from Turkey, India’s largest supplier of marble, ANI reported. The move follows reports that Turkish Asisguard Songar drones were used by Pakistan in recent hostilities.

“We have written to the Prime Minister, asking for a ban on Turkish marble. Business cannot be bigger than the nation,” Kapil Surana, President of the Association told ANI. The body has 125 members and says Turkey supplies nearly 70 percent of India’s imported marble, around 14–18 lakh tonnes annually worth over Rs 2,500–3,000 crore.

Meanwhile, in fruit markets, Turkish apples have disappeared. Traders in Pune, Mumbai, and other major cities have stopped stocking Turkish apples, replacing them with produce from Iran, Washington, New Zealand, and Indian states like Himachal and Uttarakhand, according to a report by Time of India citing agencies.

“In Pune, Turkish apples used to bring in seasonal revenue of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 crore. But now, there’s zero demand,” said Suyog Zende, a trader at Pune’s APMC market. “It’s not just trade, it’s about patriotism,” he added.

With the boycott in full swing, retail apple prices have jumped by Rs 20–30 per kg, while wholesale rates for 10 kg cartons are up by Rs 200–300. The ongoing India-Pakistan standoff, rain-hit road routes, and disrupted supplies from Kashmir have further squeezed apple availability.

The campaign, echoing post-Uri and post-Galwan sentiments, is more than just about hurting Turkish exports. “We are sending a clear message to the world: India will not tolerate any nation that backs terrorism,” Hitesh Patel, general secretary of the Udaipur marble association told ANI.

Traders across sectors are now urging the government to extend curbs beyond marbles and apples, calling for a full-spectrum economic disengagement with Turkey.