Hyundai faces backlash in India over Pakistan arm’s Kashmir posts

“Solidarity with Kashmir”: Social media users in India on Sunday called for mass boycotts or cancelling bookings of the carmaker

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Hyundai India, the country’s second largest car maker, is in the eye of a social media storm after the carmaker’s Pakistan unit released posts on its official Twitter and Facebook handles, announcing “solidarity with Kashmir”. Social media users in India on Sunday called for mass boycotts or cancelling bookings of the carmaker.

A number of verified handles of BJP and VHP ministers called for boycotts of Hyundai India through tweets on Sunday, adding taglines such as ‘Kashmir Hamara Hi Rahega’ (Kashmir will remain ours). “Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they struggle for freedom,” the posts by Hyundai Pakistan declared on Saturday. The posts have now been deleted. Hyundai India has also locked its Twitter account.

Industry experts have said that brands should stay away from sensitive political or cultural issues, or else face massive backlash

Social media users have been tagging both Hyundai India and the Korean company’s global twitter handle, along with the car maker’s Pakistan handle. A spokesperson for Hyundai India said the company had “zero tolerance” to such communication.

“The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service. India is second home to the Hyundai brand and we have zero tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view,” the spokesperson said.

Industry experts, meanwhile, have said that brands should stay away from sensitive political or cultural issues, or else face massive backlash.

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