Devendra Fadnavis hails Pune traders for boycotting Turkey apples

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

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

"I congratulate all traders who have decided to boycott imports from Turkiye. 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.

As 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.