Alappuzha: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) State General Secretary Anil Vilayil has demanded that the Cherthala police withdraw the cases registered against those who reacted to the Vishu greeting card prepared and distributed by Meher Mandi & Grills in Cherthala, Alappuzha district, which depicted Bhagwan Krishna in a manner they objected to. The establishment is owned by Mohammed Shemir and associates. Such cases, he said, are being pursued as part of the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s policy of protecting those who commit offences while penalising those who expose them.
He also criticised the police action of entering the homes of those booked in the fake cases, including women, stating that such actions were unacceptable. He demanded that the cases registered against activists who spoke out on the issue be withdrawn and that the mobile phones seized from them be returned immediately. Referring to developments in Cherthala, Vilayil said the Meher Mandi & Grills incident was not an isolated one. He stated that similar Vishu greetings depicting Bhagwan Krishna in objectionable ways had appeared in multiple establishments across Keralam, including mandi shops and even a footwear shop, in around eight locations. He also noted that a similar incident had been reported in Bengaluru.
According to him, these developments indicate a pattern of repeated attempts to provoke and test reactions. He said there had been a strong response from Hindu organisations against the Meher Mandi & Grills advertisement and similar visuals, while also alleging that the actions taken by Cherthala police had further intensified the situation. He stated that the issue would be confronted strongly and pursued through legal and public means. Vilayil also questioned whether the Cherthala police would be prepared to take action against the large number of people who had shared the controversial greeting card issued by Meher Mandi & Grills, including those within the state and outside the country. He pointed out that the image had been widely circulated on social media, reaching a large audience.
He further stated that despite what he described as a serious insult to Hindu sentiments, neither the ruling party in Keralam, nor the Leader of the Opposition, nor Alappuzha MP and AICC general Secretary K.C. Venugopal had registered any protest. From this, he opined that both LDF and UDF Front leaderships were encouraging such forces.
The controversy centres on the Vishu-themed advertisement released by Meher Mandi & Grills, located in Cherthala and owned by Mohammed Shemir and associates, which depicted Bhagwan Krishna alongside a non-vegetarian dish, including a biryani platter with fried chicken. The image circulated widely and led to protests by Hindu organisations, including the VHP, in Cherthala and nearby areas. Following complaints, the Cherthala police registered a case under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). As part of the investigation into the creation and circulation of the Meher Mandi & Grills advertisement, an individual named Arshad, the co-owner, was taken into custody, and electronic devices were seized. The developments surrounding the Meher Mandi & Grills incident have since expanded into a wider controversy, with similar visuals reported from other locations and continued protests across parts of Keralam.
