A Shiv Sena leader's video, where he is seen asking the owner of a sweet shop in Mumbai - Karachi Sweets - to change the name of the store, has been widely shared on social media, triggering sharp reactions.
In a nearly two minute-long clip, Sena leader Nitin Nandgaokar, who identifies himself as a social worker on Twitter, is seen at the shop in Mumbai's Bandra West. "Your ancestors are from Pakistan. You came from the country during the partition, and you are welcome," he tells the owner, an elderly man wearing a blue shirt, and standing with folded hands.
"I hate the name Karachi. The city in Pakistan is a hub of terrorists. You can name your ancestors in the banner... I pay my respects to them. You came from Pakistan but this is your home. You'll have to do it (change the name). We will help you with the business. I will give you time... change the name to something in Marathi," the Sena leader is heard saying in the clip. It's not clear when the video was shot.
1947 के बँटवारे के बाद बड़े पैमाने में सिंध से लोग भारत में आकर बसे और उन्होंने कराची के नाम से कई दुकानें खोलीं
— sohit mishra (@sohitmishra99) November 19, 2020
यह दुकान पिछले 70 साल से चल रहे है.. अब कोई मुद्दा नहीं होने पर इसे मुद्दा बनाया जा रहा है.. शिवसेना के नेता धमकी दे रहे हैं@AUThackeray isn't Mumbai a global city? pic.twitter.com/xxufeAsC2P
He then turns to the camera and says the owner agreed to his demand.
According to news agency ANI, the shop has covered its banner with a newspaper after the visit by the Sena leader. Visuals showed the shop, decorated apparently for Diwali, with the banner covered and some people standing outside.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Mr Nandgaokar's comment is not the party's official stance. "Karachi bakery and Karachi sweets have been in Mumbai since last 60 years. They have nothing to do with Pakistan. It makes no sense to ask for changing their names now. Demand for changing their name is not Shiv Sena's official stance," Mr Raut tweeted.
The Sena leader's clip triggered sharp reactions on social media. "This is distasteful," wrote one user. Another user called for action against Mr Nandgaonkar.
"All that the Sindhis have is the memory of the names of places that were once theirs. Don't take that away ... ," read a post.
This is blatant 'Dadagiri', by the Shiv Sena and a crying shame.
— Ruben Mascarenhas (@rubenmasc) November 19, 2020
Sindhis took refuge in Mumbai, during the partition and 'Karachi' is part of common shared heritage of humanity, not just us Indians.
Nitin Nandgaonkar must apologize immediately, @MumbaiPolice shd take cognizance https://t.co/zjgJEIOoEh
The kind of people that Congress supports!
— Aditya Paul (@adityampaul) November 19, 2020
The family of Karachi Sweets are Hindus from Sindh & came to Mumbai as refugees post partition
Illiterate people like Nandgaonkar now want to erase their ancestry after they lost their native place.
Disgusting. https://t.co/8CJ6IAQ3q6
Some attacked the Congress, which is Sena's ally in Maharashtra. "The kind of people that Congress supports! The family of Karachi Sweets are Hindus from Sindh & came to Mumbai as refugees post partition," wrote AAP worker Aditya Paul.
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