Karachi Bakery and Karachi Sweets have been in Mumbai for 60 years and they have nothing to do with Pakistan, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut tweeted, adding that the demand for changing their name made no sense and wasn't the party's official stance.
Sanjay Raut's clarification came after a video showed Sena leader Nitin Nandgaonkar asking the owner of Karachi Sweets in Bandra West to change the name of the shop.
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 video, Nitin Nandgaonkar is seen saying, "In Mumbai and Maharashtra, the name of Karachi will no longer be used. Karachi is the home of well-known terrorists. If you live in Mumbai, then be proud of Mumbai. Pakistan, the memories of Karachi will not last in Mumbai. Karachi Bakery, Karachi Sweets, Karachi schools will not run in Mumbai. Change the name of Karachi in 15 days. Pakistan is murdabad and will remain so."
60 . . . .
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) November 19, 2020
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Nitin Nandgaonkar later told India Today TV, "I did what I liked. I don't want to politicise it. I respect if they came from Pakistan but why Karachi. I did not threaten them. All have sentiments. If someone does not change the name, I will make him change the name."
Nandgaonkar is known for putting up videos on social media. He was earlier with MNS joined Shiv Sena recently.
Jatin Desai of the Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace & Democracy said, "From Karachi, many people came to India due to the unfortunate partition. People came from Sindh. They have an emotional attachment with where they were born and have strong childhood memories, everyone has it."
"In Pakistan's Hyderabad city, there is Bombay bakery. This is very common. It is people's emotions they cannot forget. Mumbai is a global city, such things should not happen. One should respect each other. Are we going to remove Sindh from the national anthem?" Desai said.
"Uddhav Thackeray should ask Nitin Nandgaonkar to apologise. This is not acceptable," he said.