In a controversial move, right-wing organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal on Monday put up huge posters at several places in the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, appealing to Hindus to do Diwali shopping only from Hindu shopkeepers.
The posters urged the Hindus to interact with members from their own community, and purchase items from those who celebrate Diwali.
Defending the move, VHP publicity chief Jitendra Chauhan said, “The posters aim to support Hindus and create awareness in society. The initiative was meant to strengthen cultural bonds.”
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress criticised the posters’ language and objective.
Former minister P C Sharma questioned whether the VHP and Bajrang Dal were against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who has always maintained that all persons in India were initially Hindus.
Sharma called the posters “divisive” and an “attempt to disturb the communal and cultural harmony”.
The posters were visible since Monday morning. However, as the controversy over the issue increased, some of the posters, including a big one at the busy Rangmahal Square in New Market area, vanished by around 2.30 pm.