Tanishq withdraws ad on cracker-free Diwali after calls for boycott on Twitter
Last month, the brand was forced to withdraw an advertisement showing a baby shower hosted by a Muslim family for their Hindu daughter-in-law.
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Jewellery brand Tanishq on Monday deleted an advertisement that talked about a cracker-free Diwali from its social media handles after a controversy erupted about the content.
This is the second time in less than a month that Tanishq has pulled down advertisements. In October, the brand was forced to withdraw an advertisement showing a baby shower organised by a Muslim family for their Hindu daughter-in-law. The ad was criticised by Hindutva supporters on social media for allegedly promoting “love jihad”. “Love jihad” is a conspiracy theory used by Hindutva groups who accuse Muslim men of converting Hindu women by marriage. Right-wing leaders allege it to be a part of a larger Muslim conspiracy of eventually turning Hindus into a minority in India.
The new Diwali advertisement featured actors Neena Gupta, Nimrat Kaur, Sayani Gupta and Alaya Furniturewala. They were all seen discussing how they will celebrate the festival. Gupta was heard saying “definitely no firecrackers, I don’t think anyone should light firecrackers”.
Several Twitter users asked the brand why it was offering advice to people on how to celebrate festivals, while others backed the advertisement.
“Why should anyone advice Hindus how to celebrate Our Festivals?” Bharatiya Janata Party National General Secretary CT Ravi wrote on Twitter. “Companies must focus on selling their products, not lecture us to refrain from bursting Crackers. We will light lamps, distribute sweets and burst green crackers.”
Why should anyone advice Hindus how to celebrate Our Festivals?
— C T Ravi 🇮🇳 ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) November 8, 2020
Companies must focus on selling their products, not lecture us to refrain from bursting Crackers.
We will light lamps, distribute sweets and burst green crackers. Please join us. You will understand Ekatvam. https://t.co/EfmNNDXWFD
Another BJP leader, Gaurav Goel, urged people to boycott the brand. “Who is tanishq to advice Hindus as how to celebrate Diwali,” he tweeted. “Keep your advice to yourself and apply the same for your cheap publicity campaign.”
Who is #tanishq to advice Hindus as how to celebrate diwali. Keep your advice to yourself and apply the same for your cheap publicity campaign.
— Gaurav Goel (@goelgauravbjp) November 9, 2020
I request you all to #boycotttanishq
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri also took to Twitter to criticise the brand. “This Diwali, let’s kill tradition, Hindu culture and promote consumerism,” he wrote. “Because photoshopped secular models with fake smiles and VFX bodies loaded with regressive Gold jewellery will lead us to Ekatvam , the Vedic philosophy of Oneness.”
This Diwali, let’s kill tradition, Hindu culture and promote consumerism.
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) November 8, 2020
Because photoshopped secular models with fake smiles and VFX bodies loaded with regressive Gold jewellery will lead us to Ekatvam - the Vedic philosophy of Oneness. https://t.co/R0O3wfSHIO
Several other people supported the brand’s message. Here are some of the tweets.
I don't know why people think that their festivals/religion are being attacked by an advertisement that is just trying to give a social message to not burn crackers. What's wrong in this? I don't understand. We all know that we our earth is going through a climate change. pic.twitter.com/e0YdmauUtI
— Shrey (@ShreyMakwana1) November 9, 2020
There is something wrong with a section of people in India.
— Shravani Jena श्रावणी जेना ଶ୍ରାବଣୀ ଜେନା (@shravanijenaa) November 9, 2020
All #tanishq care about is indian people and diversity. By telling not to burn firecrackers, its only aim is prevent air pollution but no people will bring everything to religion.