Amid intensifying diplomatic tensions, a growing number of Indians are calling for a boycott of travel to Turkey following Ankara’s vocal support for Pakistan in its ongoing disputes with India. The movement, which initially gained traction on social media, has now led to tangible actions within the Indian travel and trade sectors.
The issue gained wider attention after Mr. Anupam Sharma, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 2018-batch currently serving as DFO at Panna Tiger Reserve, urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports. In a viral post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Sharma called on Indians to refrain from purchasing Turkish dried figs (anjeer), dried apricots (khubani), and hazelnut chocolates—products for which Turkey holds a significant share in global exports.
“Turkey is the world’s top producer of Hazelnuts, Dried Figs (Anjeer), and Dried Apricots (Khubani). Most of what we consume comes from there. Now we know what to do with Hazelnut chocolates, imported Anjeer & Khubani. Nation first. Always,” he wrote, along with images of the mentioned products.
Officer Sharma’s Post:
Turkey is the world’s top producer of Hazelnuts, Dried Figs (अंजीर), and Dried Apricots (Khubani).
— Anupam Sharma (@AnupamSharmaIFS) May 14, 2025
Most of what we consume comes from there.
Now we know what to do with Hazelnut chocolates, imported Anjeer & Khubani.
Nation first. Always. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/btT7P4vQbY
The post sparked intense online debate. Some users raised questions about how consumers can accurately determine the country of origin of such products in Indian retail stores. Comments ranged from queries about sourcing—“How do you know it’s from Turkey?”—to concerns about transparency and selective outrage. One user pointed out, “Anjeer also comes from Afghanistan. How can we know that particular product is from Afghanistan, not Turkey?” Others drew comparisons with ongoing trade with China, asking why similar action wasn’t being taken against countries aiding Pakistan militarily.
Adding to the pressure, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) formally urged Indian traders to suspend travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan, the latter also having shown open support for Pakistan. CAIT called on the business community to align its actions with national interest.
Several travel and hospitality businesses have responded swiftly. Leading platforms like Ixigo and Cox & Kings announced that they had discontinued services related to Turkey. Issuing statements on social media, both firms reaffirmed their commitment to prioritising national sentiment, stating, “The nation comes first.”
The hashtag #BoycottTurkey has since gone viral, with users sharing pledges to cancel planned trips and boycott Turkish products. The campaign is rapidly evolving into a broader nationalist movement, with increasing calls for retailers to clearly mark the country of origin on all imported goods to aid informed consumer decisions.
This wave of sentiment reflects a growing trend where public opinion and foreign policy stances are influencing consumer behaviour and corporate strategy in India.
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