Why Is Haldiram Trending On Twitter? Here's What We Can Tell You

If you opened Twitter today and saw Haldiram trending, you might be wondering why. One of the largest snacks brands in the country is currently in the news after one of its store managers was allegedly heckled by a reporter from a controversial new channel, well known for propagating Islamophobia.

In the viral video, the reporter can be seen constantly raising the question of why is there Urdu writing on a packet at one of the company's outlets. Over the last few days, the news media space is occupied with debate on the serving of halal meat in most restaurants and even calls to ban shops from selling meat during the Navratri festival by South Delhi Mayor.

The store manager is seen telling the reporter in the Sudarshan TV clipping, "You can do whatever ma'am, Haldiram will not entertain such tantrums." All this is happening the reporter keeps trying to shove her mic to the manager's face while claiming that the Urdu writing is "betraying of Hindus, who fast during Navratri."

Suggested Reading: 5 Times When Journalism Crossed Limits Of Ethical Conduct In India

Why is Haldiram trending on Twitter?

The reporter's behaviour towards the store manager has drawn widespread criticism online. There are a few people, who suggested that the reason for the writing in Urdu is because "Haldiram exports its products to so many places and has outlets in different countries." Alishan Jafri, a journalist pointed out, "Have you heard of mobs in the UAE vandalizing Haldiram outlets because they serve just vegetarian food?"

Jafri also applauded the staff at Haldiram outlet for their restrain. He also pointed out that the language written on the packaging is Arabic and not Urdu. "Haldiram exports to multiple Muslim majority countries who buy Indian products without discrimination," he wrote.

Author Rana Safvi too weighed in on the controversy and wrote, "Urdu is an Indian language. Period." Reacting to the clipping, the founder of Chaaipani Shruti Chaturvedi wrote, "Damn, what is this? Who is this girl? You don't know reading 'Urdu' or Tamil or Gujarati then how is it someone's fault? This is unbelievable that the Haldiram staffer didn't drag her out of their store or call security for hooliganism! UNBELIEVABLE THIS GETS AIRED ON TV!"

However, this is not even the first time that Sudarshan TV has found itself in a soup for comments and the style of heckling used by their reporters in order to fuel communalism. In the past, they have been censured by the Supreme Court for putting out Islamophobic content.

This judgement had come after the network had air programmes with subjects like "conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government services." During the legal hearing of the case, the Supreme Court judge Justice DY Chandrachud had said, "The Sudarshan Tv show on the infiltration of Muslims in Civil Services is insidious and rabid since it tends to target one particular community." Even Justice Indu Malhotra had criticised the content on the network and said, "I saw one of the episodes and it was hurtful to watch. Many pictorials are offensive and need to be taken off."