Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday commended fruit traders in Pune for their decision to boycott apples and dry fruits imported from Turkey, lauding their “nation first” stance in response to Turkey’s support for Pakistan during recent India-Pakistan tensions. The boycott, initiated by traders at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Pune’s Marketyard, follows a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, which killed 26 people and escalated cross-border hostilities.
Speaking at a media interaction, Fadnavis congratulated the traders for halting imports of Turkish produce, including apples, apricots, and hazelnuts, as a protest against Turkey’s criticism of India’s military strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. “At this juncture, ‘nation first’ should be our stand. There is a need to teach a lesson not only to those who orchestrated the killings in Pahalgam but also to the countries supporting them,” he said, welcoming the traders’ spontaneous display of patriotism.
The boycott is expected to significantly impact Pune’s fruit market, with Turkish apples alone contributing an estimated ₹1,200 crore to the seasonal turnover. Traders, including Suyog Zende, a prominent apple merchant at APMC, announced they would source apples from regions like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Iran instead. Zende reported a nearly 50% drop in consumer demand for Turkish apples, with customers actively supporting the boycott at the retail level. Navin Goyal, Director of Pune’s Spice and Dry Fruits Association Committee, confirmed the boycott extends to Turkish apricots and hazelnuts, citing Turkey’s provision of drones to Pakistan as a key reason for the trade suspension.
The protest escalated when traders dumped Turkish apples on Marketyard roads, drawing widespread attention. However, the boycott has not been without repercussions. Zende claimed he received a threatening voice message from Pakistan, prompting plans to meet the Pune Police Commissioner for protection. Fadnavis dismissed concerns about such threats, asserting, “India is a country that stormed into Pakistan and decimated it. There is no need to fall prey to empty threats. The government will provide protection, and everyone should remain firm on the ‘nation first’ stand.”
The traders’ actions align with broader sentiments in India following the recent flare-up, which saw India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ target terror facilities in response to the Pahalgam attack. Turkey’s vocal support for Pakistan, including its critique of India’s actions, has fueled public and commercial backlash in cities like Pune, a major hub for fruit trade. The boycott underscores the intersection of geopolitics and commerce, with traders leveraging their economic influence to express solidarity with national interests.
Fadnavis’ endorsement of the boycott reflects the state government’s support for actions perceived as bolstering India’s stance against nations backing Pakistan. As the boycott gains traction, it remains to be seen how it will affect India-Turkey trade relations and whether other markets will follow Pune’s lead in shunning Turkish produce.
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