In a disturbing incident that has drawn widespread condemnation, at least some unknown persons were booked for vandalising the Karachi Bakery outlet at Shamshabad in Hyderabad on Saturday afternoon. The protest, reportedly fuelled by objections to the bakery’s name, turned aggressive around 3 PM, with the agitators damaging the establishment’s signboard while chanting nationalist slogans.
According to Inspector K. Balaraju of the RGI Airport Police, “The protesters did not enter the premises but caused damage to the bakery’s signage. They were demanding the name be changed from ‘Karachi’,” the inspector said. Upon learning of the incident, police arrived at the scene and dispersed the crowd.
The group was seen in viral videos waving Indian flags and shouting slogans such as “Pakistan Murdabad.” Despite the bakery’s long-standing identity as a quintessentially Indian brand, its name became the target of misplaced nationalist sentiment.
Karachi Bakery, founded in 1953 by Khanchand Ramnani, a Sindhi Hindu refugee from Karachi following the Partition, has remained a beloved institution in Hyderabad. The bakery is widely known for its signature fruit biscuits and other baked goods and has always operated with a deeply Indian ethos.
#KarachiBakery pic.twitter.com/S5KHB7Nm0b
— Karachi Bakery (@KarachiBakery) February 23, 2019
Responding to the incident, the bakery’s current owners issued a public appeal to the state government, emphasising the brand’s history and heritage. “Karachi Bakery is a 100% Indian brand. Our grandfather, a Partition migrant, founded this business in Hyderabad. We request the Chief Minister, DGP, and Hyderabad Police Commissioner to support us. Please don’t force a change in our brand name,” they said.
The Congress leader and State Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister D. Anasuya accused the members of the mob of being BJP cadre.
Though the BJP denied these allegations, its leader N. Ramchander Rao, former MLC, speaking to the media, said: “BJP has no connection whatsoever to the attack on Karachi Bakery. The BJP party also condemns the attack on that bakery. Attacking homes or shops is not a habit of the BJP. That habit belongs to Congress party leaders. Congress Minister Seethakka is throwing baseless allegations that BJP attacked Karachi Bakery. I request the Honourable Minister to speak only after knowing the facts. Congress leaders are announcing that they will lay siege to the BJP party. We warn that if anyone attacks or lays siege to the BJP party or its leaders, we will not sit back and watch.”
కరాచీ బేకరీపై దాడికి, బిజెపికి ఎలాంటి సంబంధం లేదు. సదరు బేకరీపై దాడి చేయడాన్ని బిజెపి పార్టీ కూడా ఖండిస్తోంది. ఇళ్లపై, దుకాణాలపై దాడి చేసే అలవాటు బిజెపికి లేదు. ఆ అలవాటు ఉన్నది కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ నాయకులది. కరాచీ బేకరీపై బిజెపి దాడి చేసిందని కాంగ్రెస్ మంత్రి సీతక్క గారు అభాండాలు… pic.twitter.com/Km3YHVNVvf
— BJP Telangana (@BJP4Telangana) May 12, 2025
This incident occurred amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with developing stories around Operation Sindoor, and the mob seemingly perceiving the bakery as having a personal link to Pakistan.
