New Delhi: BJP MP and Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Praveen Khandelwal, reaffirmed India’s firm stance on defending its sovereignty and unity, warning that any assault on these principles will be met with a strong response.
In an interview with ANI, Khandelwal highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clear position on national security and advocated for a boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan due to their support for Pakistan amid ongoing tensions between the countries.
He stated, “India has consistently supported global peace and has played a leading role in maintaining it. However, if anyone questions or attacks India’s unity, integrity, security, or sovereignty, India will respond appropriately. Prime Minister Modi has conveyed this many times, and now the world understands that India will retaliate if its sovereignty is challenged.”
Khandelwal also addressed the economic impact of Turkey and Azerbaijan supporting Pakistan, urging Indian traders to boycott imports from these countries. “Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have supported Pakistan and seem to have forgotten India’s contributions to their economies. As they back Pakistan, we have appealed to Indian traders to send a message by boycotting these nations. We recommend halting travel and trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan,” he said.
This statement came in the wake of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ launched on May 7 to target nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The boycott movement gained momentum after Turkish-made drones were reportedly used by Pakistan to attack Indian military and civilian targets during Operation Sindoor.
Earlier, traders at Pune’s APMC market decided to boycott Turkish apples following Turkey’s support for Pakistan amid the recent India-Pakistan tensions. This led to a noticeable disappearance of Turkish apples from local markets, with consumers shifting to alternatives.