Coke out, desi In: Campus ban sparks big US–India debate
Will you throw away your iPhone, stop using Google, and delete Instagram because they’re American?
As India–US tensions heat up, this chatter is all over social media. But one Indian university has actually walked the talk.
Lovely Professional University in Punjab, home to over 40,000 students, has banned American soft drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi from campus.
ट्रम्प के 50% टैरिफ के जवाब में, LPU ने 27 अगस्त को कैंपस से अमेरिकी पेय पदार्थों को बाहर कर स्वदेशी 2.0 की शुरुआत की है।
— Ashok Kumar Mittal (@DrAshokKMittal) August 28, 2025
संदेश बिल्कुल स्पष्ट है — भारत किसी भी अन्यायपूर्ण नीति के आगे नहीं झुकेगा।
आइए, साथ मिलकर आत्मनिर्भर भारत का निर्माण करें!#Swadeshi2_0 #AtmanirbharBharat… pic.twitter.com/WNyCZ0QF0q
LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal warns US on tariff hike
Its Chancellor, Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal, blasted the US decision to slap 50% tariffs on Indian goods as “hypocrisy and bullying.” He framed the cola ban as part of a “Swadeshi 2.0” movement, drawing parallels to the 1905 boycott of British goods during colonial rule.
"With momentum growing on the ground, Mittal has once again underlined the importance of cooperation over coercion," the statement read.
"India's economic dignity cannot be compromised. My decision to ban American beverage companies from LPU is not targeted at any single brand but is a symbolic assertion of India's rising role in global affairs. India is no longer a passive participant in international trade but a rising force to reckon with, that holds self-respect at its core.
Hence, a hike that is imposed on India as a penalty for trading with Russia while the USA continues to do the same is completely unacceptable. America WILL HAVE to RETHINK and REVOKE!'," said the LPU Chancellor.
#WATCH | Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP and Founder-Chancellor of Lovely Professional University, Ashok Kumar Mittal says, "I have banned American soft drinks from our campus. I have boycotted it completely, and I hope that the rest of the educational institutions of our country,… pic.twitter.com/WFVJc2Sji2
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2025
Mittal's remarks came days after a reported meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, post which two things are clear: pressure on the White House is mounting, and there is growing compulsion to recognise India as the world's fourth-largest economy that cannot be subjected to unfair trade diktats.
"Any imbalance of trade with India would deal a far greater blow to the U.S. than to India," Mittal said, calling on world leaders to move beyond "zero-sum tactics" and to resolve trade issues peacefully.
"The real test of diplomacy lies not in rhetoric but in achieving breakthroughs that benefit all sides," he added.
As per the statement, "With his firm stance against tariff hikes and repeated call for constructive global dialogue, Ashok Mittal has positioned himself as a strong voice for India's economic dignity on the global stage. His message remains clear: India welcomes cooperation, but its dignity is non-negotiable."
Baba Ramdev calls for boycott of American products
He’s not alone. Baba Ramdev too is urging Indians to ditch American fast food and beverages, pitching it as a push for self-reliance. But here’s the debate: Some hail this as a bold nationalist stand. Others question if it’s practical, or even logical.
For example, if we truly boycott American companies, where does it stop? Will we dump our iPhones, Windows laptops, and the Google-powered apps we rely on every day?
