Archive · 12 Aug 2026
RSS affiliate urges India to resist US tariff pressure, boycott
There is a group in India called the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, which cares about things made in India.
They give advice to the Indian government.
The group is worried about the United States telling India what to do.
The United States made a law that could charge big fines on countries that buy oil from Russia.
India buys oil from Russia because it is cheaper and helps Indian families.
The group says India should be free to choose its own energy.
They also think American companies should not get too many benefits in India.
They are asking people not to buy American drinks like Pepsi and Coke.
They want India to make its own trade rules without pressure from other countries.
Some people agree with them, while others think trading with America is good for India.
SJM, an RSS-affiliated organisation, urged the Indian government to resist US attempts to use tariffs to dictate India's oil purchases.
SJM opposed US Senate legislation authorising tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries making significant oil purchases from Russia.
SJM backed India's Russian crude purchases, citing energy security, availability, pricing, diversification and benefits for Indian consumers.
SJM criticised two government 'goodwill gestures' — removing FDI inventory restrictions in e-commerce and the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — saying they favour US companies.
SJM called for a boycott of American products such as Pepsi and Coke and for a ban on US technology and social-media companies in India.
- Who
- The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) and its national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan, addressing the Indian government.
- What
- SJM urged India to resist US tariff pressure, opposed US Senate legislation on Russian oil tariffs, and called for boycotting American products.
- When
- Wednesday (exact date not specified in the article).
- Where
- India, in the context of ongoing India-US bilateral trade agreement negotiations.
- Why
- Because SJM says the proposed US tariffs threaten free trade and India's sovereign energy policy, and could be used as pressure in the India-US trade talks.
Support for India's sovereign trade stance
US pressure and government concessions
US tariffs on Russian oil purchases
Support for India's sovereign trade stance
SJM says India has the sovereign right to determine its energy policy; Russian crude supports energy security, diversification and lower prices, and punitive tariffs violate free trade.
US pressure and government concessions
The US Senate passed legislation authorising tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries making significant oil purchases from Russia, which SJM believes the US administration will use as a pressure tactic in trade talks.
Goodwill gestures in the bilateral trade pact
Support for India's sovereign trade stance
SJM says removing FDI inventory restrictions in e-commerce mainly benefits American companies like Amazon and Flipkart-Walmart, and that MDR on UPI favours Visa and Mastercard while hurting Indian interests.
US pressure and government concessions
The Indian government made these moves as 'goodwill gestures' to facilitate the India-US bilateral trade agreement, according to the article.
- Organisation
- Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM)
- Affiliation
- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
- Key figure
- Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convener
- US legislation
- US Senate bill authorising tariffs of up to 100% on countries making significant oil purchases from Russia
- SJM stance on Russian oil
- Purchases based on energy security, availability, pricing, diversification and consumer interests
- Opposed measures
- Removal of FDI inventory restrictions in e-commerce; Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (UPI MDR)
- Boycott targets
- Pepsi, Coke, and American social-media and e-commerce platforms
- Context
- Ongoing India-US bilateral trade agreement negotiations