In a powerful display of public resistance, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) Chairman and veteran co-operator Dileep Sanghani led a massive demonstration against steep tariffs imposed by the United States on Indian exports.
Acting under the banner of the Bhartiya Jan Parishad, Sanghani, along with a team of supporters, took to the streets in Amreli to denounce what he described as “American bullying” in trade matters. The protest was the first of its kind in the state and drew large participation from citizens who rallied in support of a boycott of American goods.
The gathering began with the garlanding of the statue of Gujarat’s first Chief Minister, Jivraj Mehta, a symbolic gesture underscoring the call for economic self-reliance and resistance to foreign pressure.
The immediate trigger for the protest was the tariff escalation by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who, on July 31, imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods in response to India’s continued oil imports from Russia. In a further escalation just days later, Trump added another 25 percent, bringing total tariffs to 50 percent on select Indian exports.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the move as unfair and unjustified, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to protect the interests of Indian farmers “even at a very heavy price.” The sharp increase in trade duties has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum and from civil society groups, with fears mounting over its potential impact on key export sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and electronics.
In Amreli, the protest quickly became a rallying point for expressing solidarity with the government’s stand and demanding a stronger push toward self-reliance. Sanghani’s leadership lent weight to the agitation, particularly given his standing in India’s cooperative sector and his influence among rural communities directly affected by trade disruptions.
The crowd included former MP Narambhai Kachhadiya, former district BJP chief Dr. Bharathbhai Kanabar, and several other prominent citizens. Placards, slogans, and speeches condemned what participants termed as “tariff terrorism” and called for a national boycott of American products ranging from fast food and beverages to electronics and e-commerce platforms.
The demonstration in Amreli drew on a rich vein of historical memory. Speakers recalled the food crisis of the 1960s when the United States shipped wheat to India that was unfit even for animal consumption, prompting then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to undertake a hunger strike in protest.
They invoked the example of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership when India faced economic sanctions after the Pokhran nuclear tests, and the resilience shown in the face of those sanctions. The success of Operation Sindoor, which underscored India’s growing defense self-reliance, was also cited as a source of American unease, further framing the current tariffs as part of a longer pattern of attempts to contain India’s rise.
Across the country, momentum is building for a broader movement. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch and other organizations have intensified calls to shun American brands. Ten central trade unions and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have announced a nationwide protest on August 13 against both the tariffs and the India–UK Free Trade Agreement, warning that such measures threaten the livelihoods of farmers and workers. Opposition leaders, including Sharad Pawar, have urged citizens to rally behind the government in resisting foreign pressure, terming the tariffs a clear attempt at economic coercion.
Economists caution that the tariffs, if prolonged, could dent India’s GDP growth by up to one percent and shrink exports to the U.S., one of its largest markets. While some believe negotiations may eventually ease the trade tensions, the prevailing sentiment in Amreli was one of defiance. Sanghani’s presence at the forefront of the protest has become a potent symbol of unity between farmers, cooperatives, and local communities.
By linking the current struggle to past moments of national resolve, he has framed the movement not just as a reaction to a policy decision in Washington, but as part of a continuing quest for economic independence and dignity.
Whether this marks the beginning of a sustained national campaign or remains a regional flashpoint will depend on how the government, industry, and public respond in the weeks ahead, but in Amreli the message was clear: India will not be cowed by tariff threats, and its people are prepared to stand together in defense of their economic sovereignty.
