Shimla, May 13,
Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh has demanded an increase in import duty on Turkish apples, echoing earlier calls for a complete ban following Turkey’s alignment with Pakistan during the Indian Armed Forces’ recent Operation Sindhoor. Singh said the arrival of Turkish apples poses both an economic threat to Himachal’s horticulture sector and a strategic concern amid rising geopolitical tensions.
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“The confirmation by the Pakistani government that Turkey was its partner in facing Indian military operations is deeply troubling,” said Singh, who is also the son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. “It is unacceptable that Turkish apples continue to enter Indian markets when Turkey openly supports a country that harbours terrorism and acts against our national interest.”
The demand for stricter action against Turkish apple imports was first raised by Theog MLA and senior Congress leader Kuldeep Singh Rathore, along with Harish Chauhan, President of the Himachal Apple Growers Association. They had urged the Centre to impose a complete ban on Turkish apples in retaliation to Turkey.
