After Netizens, Govt Too Not Pleased With Hyundai's Clarification, Wants Firm To Be More 'Forceful' In Its Unequivocal Apology

The government has asked South Korean firm Hyundai Motor to be more forceful in its unequivocal apology, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday on the issue of pro-Pakistan posts on Jammu and Kashmir by its Pakistani partner company.

A row erupted on Sunday, a day after Pakistan marked the so-called Kashmir Solidarity Day, when posts on behalf of Hyundai's partner Nishat Group appeared on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Following a massive social media call for boycott of Hyundai's cars in India, the company had issued a clarification.

Responding to the furore, Hyundai's India unit said that it has a 'zero-tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view'.

'The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country,' it said, adding that it stands firmly behind its 'strong ethos of respecting nationalism'.

However, the netizens were not pleased with the statement by Hyundai's India subsidiary and demanded the firm to apologise unequivocally over its Pakistan partner posting content over so called 'Kashmir solidarity day'.

After the issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha, Union Commerce and Industry Minister said the government has conveyed to the company the need for them to be more forceful in their apology.

'This issue has been taken up both with the government there and the company concerned,' Goyal said.

'They (Hyundai) have already issued a clarification yesterday. We have also asked them to be more forceful in their unequivocal apology on this issue.'

Earlier raising the issue, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said certain companies have been offering support and 'posting content on Kashmir solidarity day observed by Pakistan'.

'The content they have posted on their platforms calls for freedom for Kashmir,' she said without naming Hyundai.

Similar posts had also appeared from social media handles linked to Kia Motors' dealers and partners in Pakistan.

The companies, she said, do business both in India and Pakistan, and 'yet have posted content in solidarity with Pakistan over Kashmir'.

'Such posts that are challenging the sovereignty of our country should not be acceptable. It has been surprising that it has been ignored till now. And also keeping in mind that these companies have been flourishing in India for the past many years yet choosing to take stances that are contentious is unacceptable.

“Companies must respect the rules and laws of the nation they operate in and should refrain from engaging in political and contentious causes,' she said, demanding that the government ensures apology by the firms for the 'seditious posts, and ensure companies that operate here do not challenge the sovereignty of the country'.

(With inputs from IANS)