Members of the Indhu Makkal Katchi-Tamilagam on Friday staged a protest against the Malabar Gold and Diamonds showroom on 100 Feet Road for celebrating Pakistan Independence day.
As many as 40 people led by D. Prabhu, district youth wing secretary of the outfit, shouted slogans in front of the showroom. The protesters also cut a cake celebrating Independence Day and attempted to gift books highlighting sacrifices made during the Indian Independence Movement.
Mr. Prabhu said that his organisation was not opposed to the jewellery retailer celebrating Pakistan Independence Day, as it was quite natural for any business organisation to adopt various strategies to attract customers and do business.
But what offended them was the jewellery management posting pictures of the celebrations on its website and social networking platform for Indian viewership.
Given the fact that Pakistan continued to fund and support terrorism and was the principal architect of unrest in Kashmir, it was an insult to Indians that the jewellery store should post such pictures for Indian consumption. Therefore their only objection was to the posting of pictures, he said and sought an apology from the management.
‘Malicious campaign’
A senior representative of the showroom said that mischievous elements had posted morphed pictures on the website.
Later, a release from the jewellery retailer said that a “bogus image” had been spreading across social media platforms alleging that it was from Malabar group. It was a malicious campaign, the people seen on the image were from another Indian company and that it was a clear indication of targeted efforts to damage the Malabar brand by vested interests.
