Nation First: India's Marble Hub Cuts Ties With Turkey Over Ankara's Support To Pakistan

In the wake of India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistani terror infra, trader associations in Udaipur and Pune are calling for a nationwide boycott of Turkish imports, citing Turkey's support for Pakistan.

The Udaipur marble processors association has taken a firm stance by halting imports from Turkey and urging the central government to impose formal sanctions, particularly targeting marble imports, the Times of India reported.

"Udaipur is Asia's biggest exporter of marbles. All members of the committee had unanimously agreed to stop trade with Turkiye because of its support to Pakistan... 70 per cent of the marble imported to India comes from Turkiye…," Kapil Surana, president of Udaipur marble processors committee, was quoted as saying by ANI.

Hitesh Patel, general secretary of the association, emphasised the importance of national interest over business considerations.

He said, "We feel that business and industry cannot be bigger than the nation and national interest."

The Udaipur marble processors association has independently stopped importing marble from Turkey and has appealed for similar measures to be adopted nationwide.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the association called for official sanctions, specifically targeting marble imports from the country.

"We fully support the historic decisions he has taken in the last few days," said Kapil Surana, referring to India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

He also noted that a collective decision by trade associations across India to suspend Turkish imports would send a strong message of unity and national resolve.

India imports between 14 to 18 lakh tonnes of marble annually, with Turkey accounting for approximately 70 per cent of this supply, valued at around Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 crore.

In Pune, traders have initiated a boycott of Turkish apples, aligning with the broader "Ban Turkey" campaign that has gained momentum across the country.