Tanishq Jewellers has been in the news this week for having aired an advertisement showcasing a Hindu-Muslim marriage and then pulling it amid opposition from rightwing groups.
As Tanishq continues to receive both bouquets and brickbats over the advertisements, some media outlets reported on Wednesday that the Tanishq showroom in Gandhidham, Gujarat, had been attacked over the advertisement and its store manager forced to write an apology.
However, Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's information technology operations, tweeted the claims that a Tanishq store in Gandhidham was attacked were "fake news". Malviya shared a tweet by a popular Twitter handle that had an audio clip purportedly featuring the manager of the Tanishq store in Gandhidham denying any incident.
A local source in Gandhidham confirmed to THE WEEK the Tanishq outlet was not attacked.
Interestingly, multiple rightwing social media handles on Tuesday shared an image of an apology letter purportedly affixed on a window of the Tanishq outlet in Gandhidham. The letter apologised for the Tanishq advertisement and described it as "shameful".
NDTV reported that a mob approached the Tanishq store in Gandhidham on Monday evening. NDTV added the establishment also received threat calls, following which police began patrolling the area.
The Indian Express reported over 100 people gathered outside the Tanishq store.
"“Around 120 people gathered in front of our 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 showroom, clicked selfies by posing in front of that poster and then they dispersed,” The Indian Express quoted an employee as saying.
Kutch SP Mayur Patil told reporters the police have not got any formal complaint from the Tanishq showroom.
Sources told THE WEEK that without citing any reason, on Tuesday the Tanishq showroom requested police protection.
(With inputs from Nandini Oza)
