BJP leaders criticise forceful covering of word ‘Karachi’ on signboards of shops in Vizag

BJP leaders, led by party’s district president M.M.N. Parasurama Raju, shouting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogans at Siripuram in Visakhapatnam on May 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit: V. Raju

Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Visakhapatnam have strongly criticised the action of a group of people who forcibly covered the word ‘Karachi’ from the signboards of several shops in the city.

A group of BJP activists led by the party’s Visakhapatnam district president M.M.N. Parasurama Raju visited a popular departmental store in Siripuram, where the group of people had covered the word ‘Karachi’ written on the signboard with a piece of cloth. Mr. Raju asked the store owner to remove the cloth from the signboard.

“Neither does the BJP nor the RSS support such actions,” he said.

Addressing the media later, Mr. Raju condemned the actions of certain individuals, who claimed to be members of the BJP and RSS and covered the word ‘Karachi’ on the signboards of shops.

“The store was opened in the One Town area shortly after Independence before it was shifted to Siripuram in the 1980s. Well-known for its quality products, the shop has built a loyal customer base over the years. The shop owners have been paying taxes,” he said.

Mr. Raju criticised the targeting shops bearing the name ‘Karachi’, reminding that Karachi was once a part of India.

He urged people not to target fellow Indian citizens during such crucial times of geopolitical tension.