VIDEOS: CM Devendra Fadnavis Hails Pune Traders For Boycotting Turkish Apples, Dry Fruits

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday praised Pune traders for adopting a 'nation first' stand by stopping the import of apples and dry fruits from Turkey to protest its support for Pakistan.

After Turkey criticised India's strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, fruit traders at the APMC market in Pune decided to boycott apples and other produce coming from Turkey.

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"I congratulate all traders who have decided to boycott imports from Turkey. 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. I welcome this organic feeling of 'nation first' among citizens," Fadnavis added.

Referring to one of the traders receiving a threatening call purportedly from Pakistan, he said the traders need not worry about such threats.

"India is a country that stormed into Pakistan and decimated it. Even The New York Times exposed Pakistan by publishing satellite images of the destruction caused by India. On the other hand, Pakistan could not harm us. 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," he added.

The boycott of Turkish apples is expected to significantly impact the city's fruit market, as they usually contribute to a seasonal turnover of ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 crores. Traders assert that this move is not just a financial decision but a show of solidarity with the armed forces and the government.

Suyog Zende, an apple merchant, said, "We have decided to stop purchasing apples from Turkey and are instead opting for produce from Himachal, Uttarakhand, Iran, and other regions. This decision aligns with our patriotic duty and support for the nation."

Another fruit trader noted a sharp drop of nearly 50 per cent in consumer demand for Turkish apples. "Customers are actively avoiding Turkish produce, reinforcing the ban at the retail level," he said.

Local customers also voiced their support for the trend. One resident remarked, "We have plenty of apple varieties to choose from, so why should we buy from a country that has sided against us? The government should also take steps to enhance security at sensitive locations, considering recent terror attacks."

Navin Goyal, Director of Pune's Spice and Dry Fruits Association Committee, said they have decided to boycott imports of apricots and hazelnuts from Turkey.

He said, "During the India-Pakistan conflict, Turkey supported Pakistan by providing them with drones, so we are boycotting the trade of dry fruits with them. We don't want to trade with them anymore. India is always the first to lend them a helping hand, but Turkey supported Pakistan during the crisis. We were trading with Turkey mainly for fruits and dry fruits, but now we don't want to trade with them."

"Also, by not doing any trade with them, they will incur a huge financial loss, their economy will go down, as India is the biggest market consumer in the world. Every year, Turkey earned more than ₹10,000 crore by doing business with us, but now their economy will go down the drain," he added.

Rizwan Khan, a dry fruit shop owner in Uttam Nagar, said, "There has been a decline in the sale of Turkish products in the past few days. People are boycotting Turkish dry fruits. As an Indian, I feel that we should put their market down by not purchasing from them. In support of the armed forces, we will boycott Turkish products."

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