New Delhi: A wave of strong nationalistic sentiment swept across India as top educational institutions, trade bodies, and the jewellery industry announced the cancellation of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and commercial ties with Turkiye and Azerbaijan, in response to their support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, reported the Rediff.
The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) on Friday urged all members of the industry to halt business transactions with the two countries. This appeal follows reports that Pakistan used Turkish drones during its military confrontation with India, and both Turkiye and Azerbaijan publicly backed Pakistan in the conflict.
Among the first to respond was the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, which cancelled its MoU with Turkiye’s Inonu University. IIT-Roorkee Director Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant emphasized the institute’s commitment to national security and the alignment of global partnerships with India’s strategic interests.
Several other universities, including Lovely Professional University (LPU), Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), and Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University in Kanpur, have also terminated their MoUs with educational institutions in Turkiye and Azerbaijan. MANUU had an existing MoU with the Yunus Emre Institute in Turkiye for a Turkish language diploma, which now stands cancelled.
Meanwhile, premier institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in Delhi have suspended their academic collaborations with universities in both countries.
On the business front, Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, a Turkish firm operating in ground handling at major Indian airports for over 15 years, has had its security clearance revoked by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security citing national security concerns. Cochin International Airport formally discontinued the company’s services from Thursday.
Jewellers across India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, have also joined the boycott. In Lucknow, the Chowk Sarafa Association has declared that no Turkish jewellery will be bought, sold, or displayed. On the recent Akshay Tritiya festival, Turkish designs saw peak demand, but now jewellers have vowed to reject further imports in solidarity with the nation.
Similarly, traders in Rajasthan have removed Turkish apples from the shelves. In Alwar, the Fruit Mandi Union announced an awareness drive and said any trader selling Turkish apples will be seen as acting against national interests. Marble importers in Ajmer have also refused Turkish stone shipments.
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) staged protests near the Embassy of Turkiye in Delhi and other cities, calling for a nationwide boycott of Turkish products, cultural imports, and travel to Turkiye.
However, student groups like the Azad United Students’ Federation (AUSF) criticized the cancellation of academic MoUs, arguing that political tensions should not interfere with intellectual collaboration and education.
Despite some dissenting voices, the broader national sentiment remains one of unity in support of Operation Sindoor and the nation’s armed forces.
