Swadeshi Group Calls for US Brand Boycott Over Tariffs

A fresh call for economic pushback against the United States has emerged in India amid continuing tensions over Washington’s tariff measures linked to New Delhi’s purchases of Russian crude oil.

The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), an organisation associated with the wider RSS ecosystem, has urged consumers to avoid American products and services as part of a broader “swadeshi” response to what it views as pressure on India’s economic choices. The group has also called for stronger measures against US businesses operating in India.

The dispute centres on Washington’s criticism of India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. The United States has previously imposed additional tariffs on Indian imports, explicitly linking the measure to India’s imports of Russian crude.

The latest campaign expands the debate beyond government-to-government trade negotiations. SJM has encouraged Indian consumers to reconsider purchases from American brands and platforms, arguing that economic pressure should not be directed at India without consequences for US commercial interests.

The issue comes at a sensitive time for India-US trade relations. A US proposal concerning countries that purchase Russian oil has also raised concerns in New Delhi, with India maintaining that its energy decisions are driven by national interests, including access to affordable crude and energy security.

For Indian consumers, however, the impact of a boycott campaign would depend largely on how widely such a call is adopted. Many major American companies have substantial operations, investments, employees and supply chains in India, making the economic relationship more complicated than a simple choice between buying and avoiding foreign products.

The controversy therefore reflects a wider question facing India: how should the country balance its energy requirements, relations with Russia and the United States, and its long-term trade interests?

For now, the SJM’s call represents political and consumer pressure rather than a government order banning American companies. Any formal restriction or ban on US businesses would require action through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels.

The developments are likely to keep India-US trade and energy policy in focus as both countries navigate disagreements over tariffs, Russian oil and their broader economic relationship.