LPU Chancellor and RS MP Ashok Kumar Mittal Warns of Ban on U.S. Soft Drinks if Tariff Hike Not Revoked
Rajya Sabha MP and LPU Chancellor Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal warned of banning U.S. soft drinks on campus if America’s 50% tariff on Indian goods is not revoked by August 27.
Rajya Sabha MP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, who is also the Founder-Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU), has issued a warning to United States over its recent tariff hike on Indian goods.
Dr. Mittal has announced that if 50% tariff increase imposed by U.S. is not revoked by August 27, all American soft drink and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, will be banned from LPU’s campus, which is home to more than 40,000 students.
This ultimatum follows an open letter dated August 7 addressed to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, where Dr. Mittal described the tariff hike as “unfair” and “disruptive.” In the letter, he questioned, “What if 146 crore Indians initiate a strategic restriction of U.S. businesses?”.
Reiterating his stand, LPU Chancellor said: “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 force that holds self-respect at its core. A tariff imposed as a penalty for trading with Russia, while the U.S. continues the same practice, is unacceptable. America will have to rethink and revoke.”
Commonly asked questions
The total fee for BTech range from INR 4.5 lakh -INR 36 lakh. The fee is calculated based on the semester fee. Admission to BTech course is based on LPUNEST or CUET UG score. After completion of the selection rounds, shortlisted aspirants need to pay the course fee to confirm their admission. Candidates are first required to register with an application fee for LPUNEST. The exam fee for LPUNEST is INR 1,000 for males and INR 500 for females.
The LPU average package offered to the MCA students during 2024 placement drive was INR 5.77 LPA. The following table shows the LPU average package offered to MCA students during LPU placements between 2023 and 2024:
Course |
Average Package (2023) |
Average Package (2024) |
|---|---|---|
MCA |
INR 6 LPA |
INR 5.77 LPA |
After completing MCA from LPU, students are open to multiple jobs. The salary offered to various job profiles depends on the entry-level as well the experience and skills of the professionals. Those who have minimum experience of 3-5 years can expect to earn in the range of INR 6-12 LPA in top companies. Check below the list of MCA jobs and the average salary offered to the respective job profiles. The salary data is according to the website Payscale.com.
| Job Position | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| System Engineer | INR 5 LPA |
| Software Tester | INR 5 LPA |
| System Administrator | INR 6 LPA |
| Web Developer | INR 7 LPA |
| Software Developer | INR 10 LPA |
His remarks come a week after President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, an event that observers say has increased international pressure on Washington to recalibrate its stance toward India.
Dr. Mittal further cautioned that any imbalance in trade would hurt the United States more than India. He urged: “The real test of diplomacy lies not in rhetoric but in achieving breakthroughs that benefit all sides.”
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Abhay Anand is an experienced education journalist with over 15 years in print and digital media. Currently serving as Manager- Editorial at Shiksha.com, he specializes in higher education policy, student mobility,
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