When Politics Grounded a Turkish Company in India



When Politics Grounded a Turkish Company in India

In May 2025, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of war. India launched "Operation Sindoor" to strike back. Then Turkey's President Erdogan stepped into the mess—loudly backing Pakistan, criticizing India, and even supplying drones that Pakistan used against Indian forces.

Indians were furious. The hashtag BoycottTurkey exploded on social media, with people demanding Turkish companies be kicked out of the country.

The Company Caught in the Crossfire


One Turkish company got hit hard: Celebi Aviation, which handles baggage, cargo, and ground services at nine major Indian airports including Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.

On May 15, India's aviation security agency (BCAS) canceled Celebi's security clearance, citing "national security risks" because of Turkey's support for Pakistan. Almost overnight, airports like Mumbai and Ahmedabad switched to Indian companies like Air India SATS. The transition was smooth—no flight delays—but Celebi was out. This affected 10,000 jobs (which were transferred to new handlers) and 540,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

The Viral Rumor About Erdogan's Daughter

Social media went wild with claims that Erdogan's daughter Sümeyye lost Rs 2,500 crore (about $293 million) in "just two days" because she supposedly owned part of Celebi.

What's actually true?


 Celebi's parent company did see its stock crash 20% on the Istanbul stock exchange over May 16-17—dropping from 2,224 to 2,002 Turkish Lira. That wiped out roughly Rs 2,500 crore in value. India was massive for them—over a third of Celebi's 2024 revenue ($585 million total) came from Indian operations. So yes, the ban hurt badly.

But does Erdogan's daughter own it? Almost certainly not. Celebi says this is "fake news." Official records show the company is 65% owned by international investors (from the U.S., Canada, and UAE), and 35% by the founding Celebioglu family. No public documents show any Erdogan family stake.

The rumor likely spread because Sümeyye is married to Selçuk Bayraktar, who runs the company that makes the drones Turkey supplied to Pakistan. Guilt by marriage, basically. Celebi is fighting the ban in Indian courts, calling it "arbitrary" and unfair.

The Bigger Picture


So how accurate is all this? About 80% true, but exaggerated. Turkey is definitely paying a price:

- Stock market losses are real

- Indian tourism to Turkey dropped 40%

- Imports of Turkish marble and apples have been hit

- Celebi's operations were shut down for security reasons

But blaming Erdogan's daughter? That's unproven gossip without evidence.


Why This Matters


This is India flexing its muscles—sending a message to any country that sides with Pakistan. Celebi insists it's just a business with Indian leadership and no political agenda, but it got caught in the middle anyway.

Turkish companies are considering lawsuits, and Erdogan might retaliate with his own trade restrictions. For now, India is pushing its "self-reliance" agenda, but at the cost of international aviation relationships.


The lesson?

 When India and Pakistan clash, everyone nearby gets burned—even the people handling your luggage at the airport.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recall issued for batches of eggs from 6 Canadian Brands

Image
                                                              watchmore The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a recall for eggs from six Canadian brands due to potential salmonella contamination The affected brands include Golden Valley, Compliments, Foremost, IGA, No Name, and Western Family Key Details of the Recall: Distributed in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and possibly other provinces 3 7 Affects eggs with best before dates of February 16, February 22, and March 1, 2025 7 Triggered by routine test results 7 Risks and Symptoms: Salmonella can cause serious health issues, especially for vulnerable populations. Symptoms include: Fever Headache Vomiting Nausea Abdominal cramps Diarrhea Consumer Advice: Do not consume, serve, or sell the recalled eggs Check lot numbers on the CFIA website Discard or return aff...
Read more

White House fires National Security Agency chief

Image
Watch more The White House has fired General Timothy Haugh, the director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and his deputy, Wendy Noble. Haugh also led U.S. Cyber Command, overseeing both offensive and defensive cyber operations. The reasons for their dismissal are unclear, but it follows a series of high-profile firings by the Trump administration,  including National Security Council staff members. Lt. Gen. William Hartman will serve as the acting NSA director, while Sheila Thomas becomes the acting deputy director .   Top Democrats have criticized the move, citing concerns about national security and the lack of explanation .
Read more

Premium Bonds prize checker: When is February’s draw and how can I check if I’ve won?

Image
                                                                  Watchmore NS&I has announced the February 2025 Premium Bonds draw, with two £1 million jackpot winners from Yorkshire (Kirklees and Sheffield). Here's how to check if you've won: How to Check Prizes : Online: Use NS&I website prize checker Mobile App: Download NS&I app (iOS/Android) Phone: Call 08085 007 007 (if registered for online banking) By Mail: Write to NS&I at Sunderland SR43 2SB Draw Details : Total prizes: 5.9 million Total prize value: £430,052,425 Jackpot winners: Bond 150EN423722 (Kirklees, purchased January 2009) Bond 513EP525664 (Sheffield, purchased September 2022) Winning Odds : 22,000 to 1 for each £1 bond Prize fund rate: 4% Minimum investment: £25 Maximum investment: £50,000 Prizes will be available to check from Tuesday, F...
Read more