‘They said they were Hindus and wouldn’t tolerate such ads… We told them that we, too, are Hindus. But they didn’t listen to us’
Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Tanishq showroom in Gandhidham town of Kutch in Gujarat was on Wednesday raided by Hindutva supporters. The Indian Express reported that the mob abused showroom staff and pasted a poster on its door which stated that Tanishq was apologising to Samagra Kutch Jilla Hindu Samaj for its advertisement.
However, the superintendent of police of Kutch East Mayur Patil denied the incident and termed the news of attack as just a rumour, reports IANS.
An unnamed employee of the showroom was quoted by Indian Express as saying that around 120 people gathered in front of the showroom and six or seven of them later barged in and hurled abuses at the staff. “They said they were Hindus and wouldn’t tolerate such ads. We told them that the ad was just meant to promote our jewellery business and nothing else and that the Gandhidham showroom had not issued it but that it was a decision of the company. We told them that we, too, are Hindus. But they didn’t listen to us. Some of them pasted a poster on the door of our show-room, clicked selfies by posing in front of that poster and then they dispersed,” the employee told the newspaper on the condition of anonymity.
The hand-written poster in Gujarati, which had October 12 written at the top, stated: “Aje mediama chali rahel Tanishq ni ad sharamjank hoi Gandhidham Tanishq Samagra Kutch Jilla Hindu Samaj ni maafi mange chhe (The ad campaigned of Tanishq going on in media today is shameful and Gandhidham Tanishq apologises to Samagra Kutch Jilla Hindu Samaj (all Kutch district Hindu society)).”
The ad in question called Ekatvam – which means ‘oneness’ – showed a Muslim family organising a traditional Hindu baby shower ceremony for their Hindu daughter-in-law. Tanishq pulled the ad on Monday after a backlash on social media, which saw #BoycottTanishq trending on Twitter.
Mayur Patil, the Kutch East SP, had another take on the Gandhidham showroom incident. “Some Hindu community leaders gathered and met the Tanishq jewellery showroom officials in Gandhidham and had a discussion with the manager of the showroom. After that, an apology letter was placed by the store on display, apologizing for hurting anybody’s sentiments regarding the video… We have discussed this with the showroom manager and he said that the company has withdrawn that advertisement and also placed an apology letter on display in the showroom.”
Patil reiterated that no vandalism took place but still, “we have deployed adequate police personnel at the showroom to prevent any untoward incident. We appeal to the people not to heed or believe in such rumours and help us maintain peace and brotherhood.”
