Tanishq Store Allegedly Attacked in Gujarat, Manager Writes Apology

A Tanishq jewellery showroom in Gandhidham town of Gujarat's Kutch district has put up a note on its door, apologising to Hindus in the district over the brand's TV as which was withdrawn after protests from a certain community, reported PTI.

The handwritten note in Gujarati read, “We apologise to Hindu community of Kutch on the shameful advertisement of Tanishq.” It was pasted on the showroom's door on October 12, and has since been removed, police told PTI.

There have been allegations that the showroom was targeted by a mob on Monday night, following which the apology was issued. “Some people had informed the store that the ad was not in good taste and had hurt sentiments, and some threat calls had been received. The police have been regularly patrolling the area,” a police officer told NDTV.

However, according to PTI, The showroom manager and local police have denied media reports that say that the showroom was attacked by some people angry with the Tanishq advertisement. "No such attack has taken place," said Superintendent of Police, Kutch-East, Mayur Patil, while talking to the news agency.

One of Tanishq's brand managers in Bengaluru has also been allegedly subjected to trolling, even though he was not associated with the campaign.

The advertisement, which was released last week, was trolled by a section on social media who felt it "promoted love jihad". The vicious trolling was condemned by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, author Chetan Bhagat, actor Swara Bhaskar, among many others, who said it was against the idea of India.

The ad was removed from official accounts of the jewellery brand on Monday night as a barrage of comments directed at the brand and Ratan Tata continued. On Tuesday, Tanishq issued a statement saying it was "deeply saddened with the inadvertent stirring of emotions" and that it was withdrawing the video. "We are deeply saddened with the inadvertent stirring of emotions and withdraw this film keeping in mind the hurt sentiments and well being of our employees, partners and store staff," the statement read.

Titan stock fell sharply amid the trolling on Tuesday, ending 2.1 per cent down on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and 2.5 per cent down on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The ad shows a pregnant woman in a sari being escorted by her mother-in-law to an interfaith baby shower ceremony. At the end, the young woman asks the older woman, "but this ceremony is not held at your home...". The mother-in-law replies "Isn't it a tradition for every home to keep daughters happy?"