Hosiery and textile industrialists in Punjab’s Ludhiana staged a symbolic protest Tuesday morning, urging a boycott of garments imported from Turkey and Bangladesh to highlight their frustration over what they called a growing threat to the domestic industry and a lack of national solidarity from these countries during the recent conflict between India and Pakistan.
The protest, held outside the office of the Knitwear Club on Cemetery Road, involved the burning of imported garments.
Vinod Thapar, chairman of the Knitwear Club, said the protest was a symbolic act to awaken the public and the government.
“We burnt a few garments to register our anger, not just at the economic threat these imports pose, but also to question the stance of Turkey and Bangladesh, which failed to support India in the recent conflict with Pakistan. Ironically, India had extended humanitarian aid to Turkey during its devastating earthquake in February 2023, but it sided with Pakistan. It’s time for Indian citizens to choose local over foreign,” said Thapar.
Industrialists pointed out that while the import of garments from Bangladesh is duty-free under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), making them cheaper due to lower labour costs, many Turkish brands have also set up units in Bangladesh and are routing their products from there to avoid duties.
“This misuse of trade agreements is damaging Ludhiana’s textile ecosystem, where many units are struggling to survive,” said Sarjeevan Jain of the Knitwear and Apparel Manufacturers Association of Ludhiana (KAMAL).
Jain added that big Indian retail chains are continuing to stock garments from these countries, ignoring their geopolitical stance, and the damage caused to Indian businesses.
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Darshan Dawar, president of Knitwear Club, said, “In India, Turkish and Bangladeshi garments are being proudly sold under their country labels. It’s time we make our choice clear — the nation always first. If we continue to promote brands from countries that don’t support India, we’re compromising on both economic and national interests.”
With rising imports from Bangladesh and Turkey, industrialists fear a further decline in demand for local products.
After the India-Pakistan conflict, Ludhiana’s industry leaders are not just calling for a boycott of products from these two nations, but also urging citizens to refrain from leisure travel to Turkey and to prioritise Indian-made brands in both personal and professional purchases.
Ludhiana, often referred to as the “Manchester of India” for winter wear, has around 12,000 small, medium, and large textile and hosiery units, employing over 5 lakh people directly and indirectly.
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The city contributes an estimated ₹40,000 crore annually to the domestic market and exports worth around ₹5,000 crore to global markets.