Rajya Sabha MP and Lovely Professional University (LPU) founder-chancellor Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal declared on Wednesday an all-out boycott of American soft drinks across the LPU campus, kicking off his nationwide “Swadeshi 2.0” movement.

The move comes after the US doubled tariffs on Indian exports—raising duties to a staggering 50%, one of the highest Washington has imposed on any country. Calling it “hypocrisy and bullying,” Mittal said India must not bow to unfair diktats.

“By banning American soft drinks at LPU, we want to send a clear message to the world: India will not be cowed down,” Mittal announced at Delhi’s Constitution Club, after paying floral tributes at Rajghat on Ganesh Chaturthi.

The AAP leader further invoked the spirit of the 1905 Swadeshi movement, recalling leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh.

“Back in 1905, the Swadeshi movement was able to cut imports significantly targeting British clothes and products across segments. If our forefathers could do it under colonial rule, why can’t we do it today? I think America has underestimated India’s strength and resolve. The time has come to show them our true strength and resolve,” he said.

LPU has already implemented the boycott, and Mittal says support is pouring in from across the country.

“While the U.S. and their European allies continue to purchase oil from Russia, India is being unfairly targeted for putting its own national interests first. LPU, one of India’s largest private universities with 40,000 students, has enforced the boycott immediately, and I am proud to see tremendous support for this cause from across the country,” he added.

He ended his statement on a note, “If this symbolic step grows into a nationwide movement, it could generate a massive negative impact on the American economy.”

Earlier on X (formerly Twitter), he had warned: “If the US goes ahead with 50% tariffs, LPU will not sit quietly.”

Trade Tensions Rise Between India and US

Mittal’s move came just as US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods, up to 50%, officially took effect, heightening economic tensions between the two strategic partners.

India has firmly outlined its red lines on trade, insisting it must safeguard national interests and maintain strategic autonomy, particularly in areas like energy imports from Russia.

India’s Response and Economic Reforms

In response to the tariff hike, the Indian government is pushing forward with policy reforms. This includes restructuring the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to strengthen economic confidence and encourage growth.

Economists believe the tariffs will have only a limited effect on India’s GDP, estimating a possible dip of between 0.20% and 0.90%, with the higher figure being considered a worst-case scenario.

At a recent Economic Advisory Council meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought fresh policy advice to improve living standards and ease of doing business. According to a Bloomberg report, economists remain confident that India can still achieve 6.5% growth by March 2026, thanks to low inflation and expected interest rate cuts.

Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the council, highlighted India’s strong economic fundamentals, “The indicators of macro-stability show excellent condition. This provides an opportunity to strengthen the reform agenda, establishing groundwork for future periods of substantial growth.”

Why India Stands Strong

Despite the US being India’s largest export destination, accounting for $87.4 billion worth of goods in 2024, exports make up only about 2% of India’s GDP. Instead, India’s growth depends mostly on domestic consumption, which forms around 60% of the economy.

This resilience, combined with improving credit ratings and a stronger banking sector, gives New Delhi the confidence to push ahead with tough reforms, even as trade tensions rise with Washington.