Gujarat police has denied reports of a mob barging into the Tanishq showroom in Gandhidham town of Kutch. The Superintendent of Police, Kutch, however, told The Quint that police protection at the showroom was provided over threatening phone calls.
Meanwhile, NDTV and The Indian Express reported that people gathered outside the Tanishq showroom on Monday, 12 October, demanding an apology over the company’s recent advertisement that evoked massive backlash.
The Indian Express reported that a handwritten poster in Gujarati, which had 12 October written at the top was put up outside the showroom that reportedly read:
The publication also quoted an anonymous employee of the store, whose statement contradicted the police’s claims and alleged that around 120 people gathered outside the showroom and six or seven people barged into the store and abused the staff. The ‘mob’ reportedly said that they were Hindus and wouldn’t tolerate such advertisements.
The employee who requested anonymity further told The Indian Express, “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 showroom, clicked selfies by posing in front of that poster and then they dispersed.”
Rahul Manuja, the manager of Tanishq store in Gandhidham, however, told ANI that the store wasn’t attacked. “The store has not been attacked. However, I received some threat calls. The police have supported us.”
Tanishq was forced to withdraw a recent advertisement that depicts inter-faith harmony. The brand ended up being trolled on social media for allegedly “promoting love Jihad” over its advertisement.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)