• Tuesday, April 30, 2024

INDIA

Outrage over Kashmir message: KFC apologises

A KFC outlet in New Delhi, India. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/GettyImages)

By: Shubham Ghosh

QUICK Service Restaurant (QSR) chain KFC on Monday (7) apologised after an outrage on social media over a post from its Pakistan-based franchise supporting separatists in Kashmir.      

“We deeply apologize for a post that was published on some KFC social media channels outside the country. We honour and respect India, and remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all Indians with pride,” KFC India said on Twitter.

Earlier, in a social media post, a verified account of KFC had backed the separatists in Kashmir and posted “Kashmir belong to Kashmiris.”

The incident follows the backlash that Hyundai Motors faced a day ago on social media platforms after a dealer of the automaker in Pakistan posted a message supporting separatists in Kashmir.

A Twitter account of a Hyundai dealer in Pakistan with handle @hyundaiPakistanOfficial had posted a message supporting Kashmir Solidarity day, supporting what it called as “struggle for freedom”.

Following the post, #BoycottHyundai trended on Twitter in India with many people asking to stop buying the company’s products in the country.

The same day, Hyundai Motors India put out a message on social media reiterating its commitment to the Indian market.

KFC is a subsidiary of US-based Yum! Brands that also owns popular QSR brands such as Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

KFC had officially entered the Indian market in June 1995 by opening a restaurant in Bengaluru in the southern state of Karnataka.

Currently, it operates over 450 stores in the country through its franchise partners, which includes RJ Corp-owned Devyani International and Sapphire Foods.

(PTI)

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