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 warns 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 sharp warning to the United States over its recent tariff hike on Indian goods.

Dr. Mittal has announced that if the 50% tariff increase imposed by the 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?” — a statement that has since sparked debate among universities and youth organisations across India, with several considering similar restrictions on American products.

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.”

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.”

Positioning himself as a strong advocate of India’s economic dignity, Dr. Mittal has consistently emphasized that while India welcomes cooperation, it will not compromise on self-respect. His stance has amplified calls for fairer treatment of India in international trade negotiations and placed the spotlight on the growing assertiveness of Indian institutions in global affairs.

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