RSS affiliate urges India to resist US tariff pressure, boycott American goods

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The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) has urged the Centre to stand firm against US attempts to use tariffs to influence India's purchase of Russian oil and called for a boycott of American products if Washington continues to act against India's interests. SJM national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said the recently passed US Senate legislation authorising up to 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil is a threat to free trade. He argued that India's Russian crude purchases are based on energy security and pricing, and have helped keep global prices low, including in the US.

SJM also opposed two recent government moves as 'unnecessary goodwill gestures' towards the US: a notification easing FDI inventory rules for e-commerce, which it said benefits Amazon and Flipkart-Walmart, and a bill that could allow merchant discount rates on UPI transactions, favouring Visa and Mastercard. The organisation called on consumers to boycott Pepsi, Coke and US-owned social media platforms, and urged the government not to compromise on agriculture, dairy or energy security in the ongoing trade negotiations with the US.