Amid calls to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan for their support to Pakistan in the recent conflict with India, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday seemingly came out in support of an economic boycott, saying we can no longer “afford to empower countries that are inimical to our interests”.
“Every individual is empowered to help the nation in security. Trade, business, commerce, and industry in particular can play a pivotal role in security issues. Can we afford to empower countries that are inimical to our interests? Time has come when each one of us must deeply think about economic nationalism,” he said, speaking at the convocation of Jaipuria Institute of Management held at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.
“We no longer can afford, by travel or import, to improve economies of those countries because of our participation. And those countries, in times of crisis, are positioned against us. And therefore, I firmly believe that we must always keep one thing in mind, and that is: nation first. Everything has to be reckoned on the fulcrum of deep commitment, unflinching commitment, dedication to nationalism because there is no other way out. And that mindset we must teach our toddlers right from day one,” Dhankhar added.
VIDEO | Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar (@VPIndia) addresses the Jaipuria annual convocation event in Delhi.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#Delhi pic.twitter.com/fU0baiZQNp
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Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in which 26 civilians were killed, India held Pakistan-based terror outfits responsible and carried out Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Pakistan then ramped up attacks along the LoC and across the western border, including using Turkish-made drones. Azerbaijan, too, came out in support of Pakistan.
After the cessation of hostilities announced on May 10, calls for cancelling travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan and ending MoUs and contracts with companies and organisations in the two countries have grown.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security revoked the security clearance of the Indian arm of a Turkish airport ground handling company, Celebi Aviation Holding, on national security grounds. The Confederation of All-India Traders also announced a boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
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