Tanishq Advertisement Controversy, Store Asked To Apologize

The Tanishq company made an advertisement that was aired in the country. But some people said that it included an interfaith couple and that is against the Hindu religion. The ad has hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community, as it has been heard from a few sources. Following this, an incident took place in Gujarat. A Tanishq showroom in Gujarat’s Kutch was forced to put up a board outside it with an apology on it for the advertisement. The staff members of the showroom allegedly received threatening calls after the ad was run by the company.

In a report in Times of India, it’s been stated that a staff member anonymously informed the ToI that two men barged in on Monday and were using abusive language. But, several BJP leaders including Gujarat’s Home Minister Pradipsingh Jadeja clearly denied any acts of vandalism in the showroom. In a post, he claimed, “ The news of an attack on a showroom in Gandhidham, Kutch …is TOTALLY FAKE. This is a motivated attempt to adversely impact the law and order and incite violence in Gujarat. I have asked to register a case and take strict action against those who spread this fake news”.

The owner of the showroom’s statement was in alliance with that of the BJP leaders. According to him, some people came to them and expressed their disheartened feelings and demanded an apology and put up the board. The owner Prakash Gupta wasn’t aware of the ad at that time, but Gupta also denied any vandalizing at the showroom by the people. Shamji alias Ramesh Ahir, the person who is believed to be one of the people who went to the showroom also said that he did go to the showroom with his cousins but in no way did he threaten the owner or the employees. He requested them to issue an apology to the Hindu Community. The note was pasted on the entrance, but it was later taken down.

But, the main issue isn’t the occurrence of vandalism. The issue is that how deep the religious stigmas have lodged themselves in our minds that an interfaith couple in an ad disrupts the peace of our mind. Was there really a need for an apology? Why does the secularity of our nation trouble us? Its time we revised the true essence of our religions and faith.