Hindutvawadi Groups Target Hyderabad-Based Karachi Bakery Over Name.

Karachi Bakery Under Fire: Right-Wing Groups Target Hyderabad-Based Confectionery Over Name. Authority Hangs Tri-colour On Display Board To Avert Further Agitation.  

B Upendran | HENB | Hyderabad | May 7,  2025:: Hyderabad’s popular Karachi Bakery has come under scrutiny from right-wing groups due to its name, which has sparked controversy amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after ‘Operation Sindoor’ following the Pahalgam terror attack. In a bid to ward off backlash, the bakery has put up the Indian Tricolour on its signage in some of its outlets in the city.

The controversy began when protestors in Visakhapatnam targeted the bakery’s outlet, demanding a name change. The Hindutva outfit, Janajagrana Samithi, backed by the local BJP cell and RSS, protested at the bakery, arguing that the name “Karachi” was a reference to the Pakistani city and should be changed to something more “Indian-sounding.”

The Telangana chapter of the Bajrang Dal also weighed in on the issue, with Convenor Shivaram stating that the bakery’s name should be changed to demonstrate patriotism. “When there are war clouds over India and Pakistan, Bajrang Dal is warning those who love Pakistan to leave the country. The names which are linked to Pakistan should also be changed,” Shivaram said.

Karachi Bakery, founded in 1953 by a Hindu migrant from Karachi, Khanchand Ramnani, has faced similar incidents in the past. The bakery has attempted to diffuse the situation by emphasizing its Indian roots, sharing a story on Instagram that read, “Karachi bakery is 100% Indian brand, founded in Hyderabad in 1953. Our name is part of our history, not nationality. Please support us for who we are … an Indian brand serving India with love.”

Despite this, the bakery has been forced to take measures to demonstrate its patriotism, including sticking Indian flags at the entrance of its stores in Hyderabad. The incident highlights the growing trend of nationalism-driven controversies targeting businesses with names or associations that may be perceived as anti-national.
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_Inputs from Agencies.