New Delhi: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut took to Twitter Thursday evening and said the demand for changing the name of Karachi Bakery was not the party’s official stance.
Raut’s statement came hours after a video showed Sena leader Nitin Nandgaokar asking the owner of Karachi Sweets in Bandra West area to change the name of the shop. The clip went viral on social media platforms.
Raut also came out in support of Karachi Bakery and Karachi Sweets to say that the bakeries have been in Mumbai for the past 60 years and had nothing to do with Pakistan.
“It makes no sense to ask for changing their names now,” said Raut.
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 shivsena's official stance.
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) November 19, 2020
In the viral clip, Nandgaokar can be heard telling the owner, “You have to do it, we’re giving you time. Change ‘Karachi’ to something in Marathi.”
Mumbai: Video of Shiv Sena leader Nitin Nandgaokar goes viral, where he's allegedly asking Karachi Sweets shop owner in Bandra West to change the name 'Karachi'.
"You have to do it, we're giving you time. Change 'Karachi' to something in Marathi," says Nitin Nandgaokar in video. pic.twitter.com/PfmM4B65ac
— ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2020
Following this, the bakery had covered the name ‘Karachi’ with newspapers.
Mumbai: The 'Karachi Sweets' shop in Bandra West – the owner of which was allegedly asked by Shiv Sena leader Nitin Nandgaokar to omit the word 'Karachi' from its name – now has the name covered with newspaper. https://t.co/yksVJcEvay pic.twitter.com/Ckedbi9SbA
— ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2020
Sindhi migrant Sri Khanchand Ramnani had founded the Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad after migrating from Pakistan during Partition. It is known for its fruits biscuits, plum cakes etc. The bakery is today situated in five cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
Both Karachi Sweets and Karachi Bakery are situated in Bandra West.
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Shiva Sena’s anti-Pakistan stance
Shiv Sena has been known to have anti-Pakistan stance in the past. In 2015, Pakistani singer Atif Aslam’s concert was cancelled in Pune after the Sena threatened to disrupt the event.
In the same year, Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s concert, which was scheduled to be held in Mumbai, was cancelled following opposition from the Shiv Sena.
In 2010 again, the Shiv Sena told organisers of reality TV show Bigg Boss to evict Pakistani contestants Veena Malik and Ali Saleem.
Following a series of train blasts in Mumbai in 2006, the Shiv Sena had said it would stage protests and disrupt matches featuring Pakistani cricketers. In 1999, party members had dug up the pitch at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium ahead of Pakistan’s cricket tour.
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Well, well, a Leopard many not change its spots. But the Tiger is changing its stripes. Shivsena is becoming secular.