Radio Mirchi logoRadio Mirchi, the Times Group’s flagship FM radio channel, recently ran a slander campaign called #MatAaoIndia in the wake of a Swiss couple who were attacked by a group of local youth in Agra.
The 12-second jingle says India is unsafe for tourists in the wake of the recent attack on foreigners. Mocking a popular tourist campaign titled Hindustan ka dil dekho by the Madhya Pradesh tourism department, the campaign talks of ‘watching’ tourists legs, couples getting harassed and disrespect towards tourists, before ending with Mat Aao India (Don’t come to India).
Twitter user @Bhattnaturally pointed out that the ad – in Hindi – was ideally not targeted at foreigners but locals, in the hope that some foreign outlet might pick it up.
He also called out the Times Group’s hypocrisy on ‘dissenters’ in India being prosecuted.
Needless to say, Twitter users were not amused with the move. With criticism pouring their way, Radio Mirchi ultimately posted an apology.
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