New Delhi: Haldiram, a reputed eatery outlet, landed up in controversy on Wednesday over its alleged packaging of ‘namkeen’ in Urdu language.
A video is going viral on the social media, where a media person can be seen questioning the store supervisor of a Haldiram outlet over its packaging of its packets. One of namkeen packet has guidelines written in Urdu language.
The namkeen packet has guidelines written in 2 languages – English on the front side & Urdu on the back side. And, the packet in question is Falhari Mixture.
Why the row over packaging:
As Falhari mixture is one of the popular snack consumed during Navratri, its packaging in Urdu is what has stoked row.
In fact, the popular food brand mentions on its website that Falhari Mixture has been special made for Navratri & other fasting days.
“Falhari Mixture is specially made with ingredients used during fasting days,” it also says.
Though the packet displays green vegetarian symbol but its packaging in a language practiced by other faith is what led to strong objections. Many on Twitter took exception to such faulty practice by the brand.
What happened at Haldiram outlet
In the video that went viral on Twitter, a woman reporter can be seen cornering the store manager and repeatedly quizzing her over packaging of its namkeen in Urdu language.
The reporter asks, is there agenda behind it? Is the store or brand trying to conceal something? Why the brand has mentioned Urdu on it when the product is fasting specific?
Amazing restraint by the Haldiram staff. BTW, Sudarshan’s ‘sherni’ should know that it’s Arabic and not Urdu. Haldiram exports to muliple Muslim majority countries who buy Indian products without discrimination.pic.twitter.com/jic6ASOo15
— Alishan Jafri (@alishan_jafri) April 5, 2022
The manager, though manages to keep calm but doesn’t give convincing answers. She tells the reporter that the food inside packet is not a health hazard and is safe to consume.
“If you want to buy it, you can otherwise you can leave the store,” Haldiram staff is heard saying.
While the duo argued over packaging of snack, crowd of people can be seen watching them. The viral video has garnered over 10 lakh views and has made its way to top Twitter trends.
Though many would debate whether hue & cry over packaging of its products in Urdu language should be a matter of public outcry or not because there is no rule barring any company from using any language. So, the whole controversy may be unjustified as the store manager claims in video that this namkeen goes abroad & hence the packaging this way.