Karachi Bakery, a popular eatery in Visakhapatnam, has come under attack by a Hindutva group, demanding that it change its name due to its association with Karachi, a city in Pakistan, amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following the recent horrific attack in Pahalgam.
Members of the Jan Jagarana Samiti staged a protest outside Karachi Bakery in Venkateshwarapalem, Visakhapatnam, objecting to the use of the name ‘Karachi’ and demanding an immediate name change.
Protesters, waving Indian flags and shouting “Vande Mataram,” climbed the bakery’s terrace, attempted to remove the signboard, and objected to the name, calling it inappropriate.
The mob carried slogans like “Remove Karachi’s Name, Respect India.”
According to a video widely circulated online, police intervened at the scene to prevent further escalation, with no arrests or injuries reported.
They further urged the Union government to file a sedition case against the establishment if the name is not changed.
The iconic Karachi Bakery was established in 1953 at Mozamjahi Market in Hyderabad by Khanchand Ramnani, a Sindhi Hindu migrant who relocated from Karachi to Hyderabad during the Partition of India in 1947.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader Vamsi Uppili wrote on Facebook, “Today in Visakhapatnam, Jan Jagarana Samiti organized a protest demanding the removal of ‘Karachi’ from Karachi Bakery — a symbolic act to express our love for Bharat. Such names remind us of the painful Partition; they have no place in today’s India. We stand firmly with our Indian Army and under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji in building a strong, self-respecting nation. Bharat Mata Ki Jai!”
This is not the first time Karachi Bakery, famous for its fruit biscuits, Dil Kush, plum cake, and Osmania biscuits, has come under attack.
Earlier, in 2019, following the Pulwama attack, nine men stormed the Karachi Bakery outlet in Indiranagar, Bengaluru. They confronted the staff, questioning why they were operating under the name ‘Karachi,’ the economic capital of Pakistan.
This incident prompted the management to cover up its signboard and explain its history.
In 2021, a similar protest and threats by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led to the closure of its Bandra branch in Mumbai, though the company attributed this to an expired lease agreement.
