Small Indian shops and major online fashion retailers are boycotting Turkish products ranging from chocolates and coffee to jams, cosmetics and clothing amid growing anger at Turkey’s support for Pakistan in a confrontation with India.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly expressed solidarity with Pakistan, another majority-Muslim country, earlier this month after India had conducted military strikes in response to an attack in Indian Kashmir by Islamist assailants. Cross-border fighting continued for four days before a ceasefire was declared.
On Monday, the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), which supplies 13 million family-run grocery stores, said it was launching an “indefinite and total boycott” of all Turkish-origin goods, which would affect chocolates, wafers, jams, biscuits and skincare products.
A torn placard is seen on the ground in New Delhi on Friday during a protest against Turkey. Photo: EPA-EFE
Indian fashion websites owned by Walmart-backed Flipkart and billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance have removed numerous Turkish apparel brands, according to three sources and a review of their websites.
Flipkart’s fashion website Myntra removed listings of Turkish brands including Trendyol, known for women’s clothing, street and casual wear brand LC Waikiki and jeans producer Mavi, said one source with direct knowledge.
Myntra removed the brands “in the national interest” without Walmart’s involvement, a second source with direct knowledge said.
Reliance’s fashion website AJIO also removed Turkish brands including Trendyol, Koton, LC Waikiki from its app, and many of those listings were shown as out of stock on Monday. A source cited “national sentiments” as a reason.
