Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 28 (HBTV): Yoga guru Ramdev has urged Indian citizens to boycott American companies and brands in response to the United States imposing 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports. He described the US action as ‘political bullying, hooliganism and dictatorship’.
‘Indian citizens should strongly oppose the 50 per cent tariffs that America has imposed on India as political bullying, hooliganism and dictatorship. American companies and brands should be completely boycotted,’ Ramdev told ANI.
He added, ‘Not a single Indian should be seen at the counters of Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC or McDonald’s. There should be such a massive boycott that chaos will ensue in America. Inflation will increase in America to the point where Trump himself may have to retract these tariffs. Trump has committed a blunder by turning against India.’
The US first imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India in early August. President Donald Trump then announced an additional 25 per cent tariff effective August 27, targeting India over its continued purchases of Russian oil.
Meanwhile, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats criticised President Trump for imposing tariffs on India while sparing China and other countries that buy larger quantities of Russian oil. They said the focus solely on India is ‘hurting Americans and sabotaging the US-India relationship in the process’ and questioned the administration’s intent, stating, ‘It’s almost like it’s not about Ukraine at all.’
The committee noted that while China, the largest importer of Russian energy, continues to purchase oil at discounted prices, it has so far been spared similar punishment, calling the policy outcome confusing.
The 50 per cent tariffs came into effect on August 27, following a draft notice from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The additional duties are being imposed under President Trump’s Executive Order 14329 of August 6, 2025, titled ‘Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation.’
(ANI)