NEW DELHI:Shopkeepers in a southern Indian state began removing Pepsi and Coke from their shelves Wednesday after unions called for a boycott of the softdrink giants, urging consumers to shun foreign brands.
Pepsi and Coke sell a range of products across India, including softdrinks and bottled water, and the boycott proposal in Tamil Nadu could affect more than a million outlets in India’s most prosperous state, which is home to nearly 70 million people.
Trade unions in Tamil Nadu said they targeted the US firms in a broad swipe at foreign businesses as tempers flared after authorities issued a ban last year on a traditional bull-wrestling festival known as Jallikattu.
The court decision, which followed a legal challenge by US-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), sparked a huge backlash and some supporters of the ancient custom fumed over meddling from abroad. There is no suggestion the softdrinks firms were in any way involved in the ban.
“There are multiple reasons behind the boycott, but most important is how PETA tried to kill Jallikattu,” T. Vellaiyan, president of Tamil Nadu Traders Associations, told AFP.
“We have appealed to traders to stop selling products from Coke and Pepsi from today to make this campaign a success.”
The unions have also urged people to buy local beverages instead because they do not “use chemicals and are healthier than the foreign products.”
India’s leading beverage association expressed disappointment at the proposed ban, saying Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. provided direct employment to 2,000 families in the state.
It is not the first time Pepsi and Coke have faced hurdles in Tamil Nadu.
The softdrink giants have been blamed for draining groundwater in the state, which has been suffering through a severe drought for roughly two years.
The handful of bottling plants run by the two companies in Tamil Nadu have been the site of angry protests, with permission to build at least three new facilities being withdrawn amid violent rallies by farmers.
More than 200 farmers have committed suicide in Tamil Nadu in recent months following crop failure due to poor rainfall and inadequate water for irrigation.
The controversial and sometimes deadly Jallikattu festival was banned by India’s top court last year, but authorities bowed to public outcry and moved to overturn the ruling in January.
Traders in southern India call for ban on Pepsi, Coke
Traders in southern India call for ban on Pepsi, Coke
Winter storm snarls US holiday travel
- The National Weather Service warned of hazardous travel conditions from the Great Lakes through the northern mid-Atlantic and southern New England, with the potential for tree damage and power outages
BOSTON: More than a thousand flights were canceled or delayed across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions due to snow as thousands took to US roads and airports during the busy travel period between Christmas and New Year’s.
As of Saturday morning, New York City had received just under three inches of snow — roughly half of what some forecasts had predicted.
At least 1,500 flights were canceled from Friday night into Saturday, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware.
Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport posted snow warnings on the social media platform X, cautioning that weather conditions could cause flight disruptions.
The National Weather Service warned of hazardous travel conditions from the Great Lakes through the northern mid-Atlantic and southern New England, with the potential for tree damage and power outages. Forecasters said the storm was expected to weaken by Saturday morning.
Ahead of the storm, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for more than half of the state. Acting New Jersey Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency for all of New Jersey, “due to a severe winter storm causing dangerous weather conditions, including heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain.”
“This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel,” Way said in a statement. “We are urging travelers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to the roads. Drivers should plan their travel accordingly, monitor conditions and road closures, and follow all safety protocols.”
