Hyundai and Kia Motors row over Kashmir freedom post: Summary
Hyundai, Kia Motors and other two firms land in trouble over their post on Kashmir’s freedom.
Hyundai and Kia Motors row over Kashmir freedom post is due to companies’ involvement in geopolitical matters of the region.
Not only Hyundai and Kia Motors but also two other companies, KFC and Pizza Hut took partisan stand on the issue.
Hyundai and Kia Motors are South Korean car makers.
What is the ado about Hyundai and Kia Motors row over Kashmir freedom post?
Pakistan’s affiliates of Hyundai, Kia Motors, KFC, and Pizza Hut made posts and tweeted in line with Kashmir Solidarity day on 5th February 2022.
Pakistan observes Kashmir Solidarity day on 5th February every year. The state of Pakistan maintains the belief of Kashmir’s liberation.
It was first observed in 1990. In 1990, the chief minister of Pakistan’s state of Punjab was Nawaz Sharif. He had called a nation-wide strike on 5th February against his alleged ‘India’s occupation of Kashmir’. Afterwards, the ruling party of Pakistan in 1990, Pakistan People’s Party declared the day as Kashmir Solidarity day.
The posts are the reason behind the companies and their Indian arms landing in trouble. They are facing criticism for involving in a state’s matter. The shares of Hyundai and Kia Motors on Indian indices slumped.
Responses to the posts
The posts evoke condemnatory responses.
Amid the ongoing parliamentary sessions, the Union Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal, informs the parliament that the South Korean carmakers are asked to issue an ‘unequivocal apology’.
Moreover, MEA summons South Korean Ambassador over the issue. MEA spokesperson informs that the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar expresses deep disapproval against companies’ interference in the state’s sovereign and integral matters despite extending ease of business. In response, his South Korean counterpart, Chung Eui-yong apologizes for the offence to India.
Not only at state level, but Indian citizenry expresses disapproval as #boycott trends on Twitter against these companies.
Apologies from the Companies
The companies issue apologies. Especially, the Indian arms of the companies. As per them, some independent unauthorised distributors from Pakistan are the source behind the posts. Further, the Indian arms do not have association with them. Lastly, they condemn such social activities by the Pakistan based independent distributors.
