After Hyundai motor company, fast food restaurant chain KFC’s Pakistan handle uploaded a post on Facebook depicting ‘solidarity’ with Kashmir.
The February 5 post has since been deleted but social media users have been sharing screenshots of it, demanding an apology from the company as #BoycottKFC began to trend on Twitter.
I appeal to the centre & all the state govts to take serious action against all the @KFC_India outlets and ask them to shut their outlets .
They have no right to do buisness in India. #BoycottKFC pic.twitter.com/6CugpmjI7h— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) February 7, 2022
The post read: “You never left our thoughts and we hope that the coming years bring peace to you!”. The image has “KASHMIR BELONGS TO THE KASHMIRIS” written in bold red letters.
Following an online uproar, KFC India issued an apology on Monday evening. “We deeply apologize for a post that was published on some KFC social media channels outside the country. We honour and respect India, and remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all Indians with pride,” read a statement issued by the company.
However, KFC is not the only company that has posted messages in solidarity with Kashmir. Earlier, Hyundai Pakistan’s social media handle put up a post remembering “sacrifices of Kashmiri brothers” on February 5.
We deeply apologize for a post that was published on some KFC social media channels outside the country. We honour and respect India, and remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all Indians with pride.
— KFC India (@KFC_India) February 7, 2022
Hyundai India was quick to react as it issued a statement on February 6, the company said, “Hyundai Motor India has been committed to the Indian market for more than 25 years now and we stand firmly for our ethos of respecting nationalism.”
In 2021, KFC Pakistan posted about freedom of Kashmir on Facebook.
Link: https://t.co/osZOOaX1tK
International companies should understand that Pakistan is using them, their investment & their brands as tool against India's Kashmir
It'll negatively affect business of companies pic.twitter.com/WKnB6SAsxL
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 7, 2022
Apart from this, the automotive company said, “The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending or unparalleled commitment and service to this great country. India is the second home to the Hyundai brand we have a zero-tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and strongly condemn any such view.”
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