Tanishq ad withdrawn after 'Love Jihad' accusations by Hindus

  • IndiaGlitz, [Tuesday,October 13 2020]

An ad by Tanishq, a popular jewellery brand, has landed itself in a major controversy. Soon after it was released earlier this week, the ad courted a row when sections of Hindus on social media accused it of promoting love jihad.

In no time, #BoycottTanishq started trending on Twitter. The ad was about a Hindu daughter-in-law in a Muslim family enjoying the hospitality of her Muslim mother-in-law during a baby shower ceremony. Hindus have accused the ad of subtly and cleverly normalizing love jihad.

An OpIndia piece said that this ad surfaced only a couple of days after one 18-year-old boy, Rahul Rajput, was brutally lynched to death by the family of his Muslim girlfriend. As per most Hindus who have objected to the ad, it presents a very untrue picture of what happens with Hindu girls in Muslim circles. Hindus are forcibly converted to Islam in romantic/marital relationships and the Tanishq ad distorts the ground reality, critics are lamenting.

On the other hand, pro-Tanishq ad sections are saying that critics are toxic and are communalizing a beautiful ad that allegedly seeks to bring communities together.