The protest was aimed at highlighting what the group described as the “complicity” of multinational corporations like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola in the ongoing conflict involving Palestinians.
NEW DELHI — Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine (IPSP) organised a flash protest outside a McDonald’s outlet in the Janpath area on Friday (April 3) as part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
The protest was aimed at highlighting what the group described as the “complicity” of multinational corporations like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola in the ongoing conflict involving Palestinians. Protesters raised slogans, distributed pamphlets, and appealed to passers-by to support the global boycott movement in solidarity with Palestinians.
Amid heightened tensions in West Asia, the activists also linked their campaign to broader geopolitical developments, including recent escalations involving Iran and the United States.
During the demonstration, speakers alleged that multinational companies such as McDonald’s and Coca-Cola were complicit in Israel’s actions in Gaza and called on citizens to participate in economic boycotts.
One of the activists, Rauf, claimed that the companies were supporting Israeli forces. “We all know how McDonald’s has been distributing ‘happy meals’ to the Israeli occupation forces,” he said, accusing the company of backing actions against Palestinians.
Another speaker questioned people present at the restaurant, asking whether they would still choose to eat McDonald’s food knowing the company’s alleged role in what he described as the “genocide” of Palestinians and the suffering of children, including deprivation of food.
Citing reports of recent Israeli legislation allowing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, another speaker, Yogesh, criticised the move and urged people to oppose what he termed “anti-human” policies.
IPSP, however, clarified that its campaign is rooted in principles of human rights and justice.
“Standing up for Palestine is standing up for humanity. This is not about religion, but about the liberation struggle of an oppressed people,” the group said in a statement.
Activists reiterated that the BDS movement is a non-religious campaign and called for broader public participation in solidarity actions for Palestinians.
