Shiv Sena gives Mumbai airport 10-day ultimatum to cut ties with Turkish firm

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena leaders from the Eknath Shinde faction staged a protest at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, urging authorities to sever ties with Turkish ground-handling company Celebi NAS Airport Services. The demonstration was led by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, who criticised Turkey for backing Pakistan amid recent tensions with India. "Under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, we will work to shut down all (Turkish) companies operating in Mumbai. Earning money from India and using it to help Pakistan is not going to work in Maharashtra," Patel said. He warned that the party would launch a more aggressive protest—referred to as ‘Ugr Andolan’—if the airport did not act within 10 days. “We have given them 10 days to take action. Otherwise, we will start the 'Ugr Andolan' at Mumbai Airport with 10,000 people,” he added. Celebi currently manages about 70% of ground operations at the airport, covering passenger services, load control, flight operations, cargo handling, and more. Arjun Kandhari, a Shiv Sena youth leader, said the issue was a matter of national security. "Today's movement is for our nation's security... It is a national security concern that a Turkish company, Celebi, operates at our Mumbai airport. We will not let a company from Turkey, a country that supports Pakistan, operate on Indian soil. They earn money here in India and then give terror funds to Pakistan," he alleged. "We have asked the chief officer of the airport to conduct a critical evaluation of Celebi and terminate its operation within the next 10 days," Kandhari said. The protest comes amid a growing call for a boycott of Turkish imports across various sectors in India. In the wake of Turkey’s support for Pakistan during India's 'Operation Sindoor', which targeted terror infrastructure, some trader and farmer groups have also taken a stand. In Himachal Pradesh, apple growers have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban Turkish apple imports and enforce stricter quality checks on imported fruits. The Himalayan Apple Growers Society, along with other farmers' groups, wrote to the PM flagging the economic distress caused by imports. "Under your leadership, 'Vocal for Local' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' have instilled a new sense of self-reliance. However, the continued and increasing import of apples, particularly from Turkey, is pushing our mountain farmers into a deep economic crisis," the letter said. In Ghaziabad, fruit traders have also vowed to stop doing business with Turkish firms. “Any country supporting Pakistan in acts against India will face a boycott,” said trader Shadab Khan, adding that traders had permanently ended all trade with Turkey. India imports over Rs 1,200 crore worth of goods annually from Turkey, including a large share of fruits like apples.