Indian television actress Rupali Ganguly, renowned for her role in the popular series Anupamaa, has publicly urged Indian citizens and celebrities to cancel their travel plans to Turkey. This appeal comes in response to Turkey’s support for Pakistan following India’s military operation, Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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Ganguly, who is also affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express her sentiments. She wrote, “Can we please cancel our bookings for Turkey? This is my request to all Indian celebs/influencers and travellers. This is the least we can do as Indians. #BoycottTurkey.”
Background: The 2025 Pahalgam Attack and Operation Sindoor
On April 22, 2025, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, primarily targeting Hindu tourists. The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, conducting airstrikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly criticized India’s actions, expressing support for Pakistan and calling for international investigations into the incident. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described Pakistan’s response as “calm and restrained,” further straining diplomatic relations between India and Turkey.
Economic Impact: Calls for Boycott Gain Momentum
Industrialist Harsh Goenka highlighted the potential economic impact of a travel boycott, noting that Indian tourists contributed over ₹4,000 crore to the economies of Turkey and Azerbaijan in 2024. He urged Indians to leverage their tourism spending power as a form of protest against these countries’ support for Pakistan.
Following these calls, travel agents in Gujarat and other parts of India have begun advising clients to avoid non-essential trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Indian travel industry has also joined the campaign, reinforcing the appeal for a tourism boycott of the two countries.
Entertainment Industry Responds: FWICE Issues Advisory
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), representing 36 different crafts within the Indian media and entertainment industry, has called on Indian film producers and professionals to stop choosing Turkey as a filming location. This appeal stems from Turkey’s ongoing diplomatic support for Pakistan on matters that impact India’s national interests.
The organization urges the industry to act in solidarity by avoiding filming in countries perceived to be unfriendly to India.
Public Sentiment and Social Media Campaigns
The hashtag #BoycottTurkey has been trending on social media platforms, with many Indian citizens expressing their support for the boycott. Ganguly’s appeal has resonated with a significant portion of the public, who view the boycott as a means to assert India’s stance against nations supporting terrorism.
Additionally, several Indian tourists have canceled their planned trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan, and travel operators have suspended tour packages to these countries. This wave of cancellations and suspensions is being driven by calls for a boycott circulating widely on social media.
Call for boycott Turkey-A national sentiment
Rupali Ganguly’s call for a boycott of Turkey reflects a broader national sentiment against countries perceived to support terrorism. As diplomatic tensions escalate, the Indian public and various industries are taking economic measures to express their disapproval, signaling a shift towards more assertive forms of protest in international relations.
By – Sonali