An Indian TV reporter got into a heated argument with the Indian food manufacturing company, Haldiram’s manager. The argument started when the reporter argued about Urdu’s description on one of its product packaging. The whole incident happened in the presence of police.
In reality, the instructions were written in Arabic and English languages on the “Falhari Mixture” product packaging. However, the reporter from ‘Sudarshan News’ claimed the instructions are written in the Urdu language over which she started war of words with the manager.
She kept asking the manager the same question, ” What lies are you disseminating in public or concealing by writing Urdu instructions?” The manager retaliated by saying, “Do whatever you want because these kinds of tantrums Halidram won’t entertain at all.”
The reporter repeatedly asked, “Why have you written this (instructions) in Urdu? “Does it includes animal oil?”
The outlet Manager replied bluntly, “Ma’am if you want to have it, you can have it. If you don’t want to have it, you can leave it here and go.” During the argument, she also questioned the reporter, “if people from three communities in India come to the outlet, who may know three languages- English, Hindi, Urdu. I have given these prescriptions for them then why she (the reporter) was stubborn on reading only the Urdu prescription. “Aap ko Urdu hi Kyun padhni hain, ma’am? English aur Hindi bhi hain wahan pe aap ke liye( there is English and Hindi for you as well.”
This clip has widespread across social media and received backlash from various netizens and Indian journalists.
One user asked this TV reporter, “Here is some Urdu text. Will this reporter go to the Railways and ask what it is about.”
Another user sarcastically asked to boycott the Indian currency too as Urdu script is written on the note.
Indian Journalist, Rana Ayyub highlighted the smear campaign against the Muslim community by the Indian Central government and TV channels.
Another Journalist, Alishan Jafri appreciated the behaviour of Haldiram’s staff who confidently stood by the stance in favour of ‘Urdu description’ without giving any explanation.
Haldiram’s products are exported to various Muslim countries including United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey. It is very common to write the Arabic language to facilitate customers living there.
