SHIMLA: CM Sukhu Tells PM – Slam 100% Tariff on Turkish Apples, Cites National Security and Farmer Crisis
Mounting pressure from Himachal’s apple growers has now taken a geopolitical turn — Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to slap a minimum 100% import duty on apples from Turkey, calling it a necessary step to protect Himachal farmers
However, Farmers and civil socitey members in Himachal hit back at a regime openly backing Pakistan and abetting terrorism against India demanding snapping all trade Ties with Turkey.
Sukhu’s letter to the Prime Minister comes just days after apple farmers in Himachal demanded a total ban on apple and plant imports from Turkey and the cancellation of the Turkey-conducted survey for the strategic Bilaspur–Manali–Leh rail line, citing national interest.
The CM accused Turkey of flooding Indian markets with cheap apples — a move that is economically hurting Indian farmers and, by extension, benefiting a government that’s vocally aligned with anti-India forces.
"In recent years, Turkish apples have swamped Indian mandis, weakening local growers, particularly in hill states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir.
These are not just apples — this is economic infiltration,” Sukhu wrote in his letter to the PM, citing data showing that Turkey exported 1.17 lakh metric tonnes of apples to India in 2024 alone, making up 23% of India’s total apple imports.
He called it a double whammy: while apple imports have skyrocketed from 1100 metric tonnes in 1998 to 5.19 lakh metric tonnes in 2024, Turkey’s share has grown disproportionately, especially since 2020 indirectly pointing fingersat the Modi’sCentralregime.
Sukhu also argued for quantitative restrictions (QRs) on imported apples and pushed for policy action to shield over 2.5 lakh apple-growing families, calling the apple economy critical to Himachal’s rural employment and worth over Rs 5000 crore annually.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office say Sukhu will raise the issue personally with Prime Minister Modi during his upcoming visit to Delhi, reiterating that “we can’t allow a pro-Pakistan regime to destabilize our economy under the guise of trade.”
Resudents, hoteliers, farmers have already submitted memorandum to the PM demanding cancellation of the survey by Turkish firm of the Bilaspur Manali Leh railway project in view of national security.
The message from Himachal is loud and clear: No more sweet deals for Turkey while it keeps playing footsie with India’s enemies.
