Jalandhar28.08.25-: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP and Founder-Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU), Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal has put into motion a complete ban on sale of all American soft drink brands across the LPU campus. Launching Swadeshi 2.0, Dr. Mittal has also appealed all Indians to join hands in boycotting American products and join the Swadeshi 2.0 movement in response to Trump Tariffs.

The move comes in direct response to America’s ‘unfair’ decision to double tariffs on Indian goods, taking the overall hike to a staggering 50% — one of the highest tariff rates imposed by the USA on any country in the world.

Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal declared his stand against the ‘hypocrisy and bullying’ of the Trump administration. He said, “While the U.S. and their European allies continue to purchase oil from Russia, India is being unfairly targeted for putting its own national interests first. LPU, one of India’s largest private universities with 40,000 students, has enforced the boycott immediately, and I am proud to see tremendous support for this cause from across the country!”

Speaking from the Rajghat, Dr. Mittal stated, “Back in 1905, the Swadeshi movement was able to cut imports significantly targeting British clothes and products across segments. If our forefathers could do it under colonial rule, why can’t we do it today? I think America has underestimated India’s strength and resolve. The time has come to show them our true strength and resolve.”

On the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, Dr. Mittal remembered the heroes of the Swadeshi movement in 1905- Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh, among others. He added that over a century back, Tilak ji had transformed Ganesh Utsav as a platform of cultural unity and of Jan Andolan to fight the Britishers out, and it’s quite a privilege that “I am launching Swadeshi 2.0 today on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Dr. Mittal further explained how the boycott could escalate into a powerful economic weapon. “If this symbolic step grows into a nationwide movement, it could generate a massive negative impact on the American economy”

Talking specifically about his home state Punjab, Dr. Ashok Mittal stressed that the U.S. tariffs strike at sectors where the state is a global leader. Punjab exports many products to America, including hand-tools, textiles and garments, sports goods, tractors, agricultural goods etc.

As a nationalist and a patriot, Dr.Mittal has always placed Bharat First:

- He was a crucial member of the all-party delegation to Russia, Slovenia, Latvia, Spain and Greece to expose the role of Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

- Under his leadership, the Lovely Professional University ended all its MoUs with institutions in Turkiye and Azerbaijan after they backed Pakistan following the Pahalgam Attack.

- In May 2025, Dr. Mittal announced the ‘Jai Jawan Scholarship’ in May 2025, offering a 100% tuition fee waiver for nearly 22 lakhs, Armed Forces and Paramilitary personnel enrolling in LPU Online programs, as a mark of gratitude to our armed forces for their services.

With the Swadeshi 2.0 call, Dr. Mittal has positioned himself as one of the strongest voices challenging economic injustice and defending India’s dignity on the world stage. This is in continuation of Dr. Mittal's open letter written on the 7th of August 2025, right after the Trump administration announced the additional tariffs on the 6th of August 2025.