• Companies had supplied help to Kashmiris on Kashmir Day.
• Dinesh Navadiya of VHP asks companies to not do enterprise in India in the event that they help Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir.
• Companies have already issued apologies as criticism grew over the posts.

AHMEDABAD: Tons of of Hindu nationalist protesters marched in the Indian state of Gujarat on Saturday, prompting the closure of shops owned by a number of multinational companies caught up in a furore over social media posts supporting Kashmir Day.

The messages had been posted final week by the Pakistani branches of companies together with Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, quick meals chain Domino’s Pizza and Yum Model Inc’s Pizza Hut and KFC, which additionally function in India.

They had been issued by the companies on February 5 to coincide with Pakistan’s Kashmir Day, held yearly to commemorate the sacrifices of Kashmiris struggling for self-determination, and induced anger amongst social media customers in India.

“These companies cannot be doing business in India and at the same time supporting Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir,” Dinesh Navadiya, nationwide treasurer of Hindu nationalist organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), instructed Reuters throughout a protest in town of Surat.

Shouting slogans akin to “Kashmir is Ours” and carrying saffron scarves, greater than 100 members of Bajrang Dal, one other Hindu nationalist group, additionally joined the protest — one in every of a number of held in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Each the VHP and Bajrang Dal are linked to Modi’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Occasion (BJP).

The furore has highlighted the dangers confronted by companies working in India and Pakistan.

India says Pakistan helps an armed revolt against New Delhi’s rule in India occupied Kashmir that broke out in 1990. Pakistan denies the cost and says it solely supplies diplomatic and ethical help for the Kashmiri individuals.

“We protested peacefully against these companies for the tweets by their Pakistani affiliates in support of Kashmir,” stated Hitendrasinh Rajput, spokesperson for the VHP’s state unit in Gujarat’s largest metropolis of Ahmedabad.

“We want to make it clear to these companies and others that Kashmir is an inseparable part of India,” Rajput stated.

Companies together with Hyundai, Kia, Domino’s Pizza, Yum Model’s Pizza Hut and KFC, Japan’s Suzuki Motor, Honda Motor and Isuzu Motor issued apologies as criticism grew over the posts.