Karachi Bakery vandalized in Hyderabad by BJP workers amid Indo-Pak tensions

Bakery’s name targeted despite its Indian heritage, no serious damage reported

HYDERABAD (MNTV) – Workers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vandalized a branch of the iconic Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad on Saturday, citing its name as a symbol of Pakistan amid rising tensions between the two neighboring countries.

The protesters, clad in saffron shawls, chanted anti-Pakistan slogans and struck the bakery’s signboard with sticks, specifically targeting the word “Karachi.”

According to the Telangana police, the group also planted Indian flags near the bakery in a symbolic act of protest.

Inspector K. Balaraju of the RGI Airport Police Station confirmed the incident, saying, “A group of BJP workers showed up outside the Shamshabad branch around 3 PM. They raised slogans, damaged the signboard, and attempted to intimidate staff.”

Although the suspects were detained, they were released after the bakery owner declined to press charges.

Karachi Bakery, established in Hyderabad in 1953, was founded by a family that migrated from Karachi, Pakistan, during the Partition.

Over the decades, it has become a beloved Indian brand, renowned for its fruit biscuits and Osmania cookies.

Despite its name, the bakery has consistently clarified its Indian ownership and heritage.

“We are an Indian enterprise. It is unfair to label us as Pakistani,” a manager from the bakery told The Indian Express.

This is not the first time the bakery has faced hostility.

Similar incidents occurred in 2019 following the Pulwama attack, when the bakery’s branches were vandalized, prompting the owners to seek government protection.

The attack on Karachi Bakery occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

The escalation began after an April 22 attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people.

India accused Pakistan of involvement without presenting evidence, leading to a series of military actions, including drone and missile strikes from both sides.

On Saturday, a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump brought the military standoff to a halt.

However, nationalist rhetoric and anti-Pakistan sentiment have persisted, fueling incidents like the vandalism of Karachi Bakery.

Experts and human rights activists have condemned the attack as part of a growing pattern of intimidation aimed at businesses and individuals perceived as symbols of foreign ties, even when baseless.

In stark contrast, Bombay Bakery, a famous outlet in Pakistan’s Hyderabad, continues to operate without any reported instances of attack, highlighting the differing social environment prevalent in the two countries.