The incident unfolded shortly before the ceasefire announcement between Pakistan and India, further exposing how deeply rooted anti-Pakistan sentiment has become in India’s domestic politics.
As reported by The Wire, BJP goons wearing saffron shawls stormed the Karachi Bakery, stamped on Pakistani flags, and screamed anti-Pakistan slogans. In a targeted act of hate, they used sticks to vandalise the bakery’s signboard, focusing especially on the word ‘Karachi’, which honors the bakery founder’s hometown before Partition.
This wave of fanaticism came amid escalating military tensions between the two nuclear powers, which began after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Without any credible investigation or proof, India hastily blamed Pakistan and launched illegal drone strikes across the border, killing innocent civilians.
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In response, both countries exchanged missile fire over the course of a tense week — a crisis that only ended after US President Donald Trump announced a full and immediate ceasefire.
Speaking to The Wire, Hyderabad police official K Balaraju confirmed that two BJP activists arrived at the bakery around 3 PM, chanted provocative slogans, and tried to damage its signage. Though they were detained, they were quickly released after the bakery’s owner chose not to file charges — likely out of concern for further backlash.
Founded in 1953, Karachi Bakery has been an established name in Hyderabad and across India, run by a family that migrated from Karachi after Partition. Despite its Indian identity, it has repeatedly come under attack whenever India-Pakistan tensions rise, revealing the fragile nature of tolerance in India today.
Another outlet of the bakery was also targeted recently, where protesters planted Indian flags in a show of hyper-nationalist dominance. While speaking to The Indian Express, a bakery manager said, “We are an Indian establishment. We cannot be branded Pakistani” — a statement that reflects the pressure faced by businesses with any Pakistani connection, even if symbolic or historical.
India’s hate-driven politics continues to turn cultural symbols and peaceful businesses into battlegrounds, while Pakistan remains focused on dialogue, diplomacy, and regional peace.
