INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Commerce minister Piyush Goyal has said Hyundai needs to be forceful in its unequivocal apologyNew Delhi: As Hyundai Motors finds itself in
the eye of the storm on its Pakistan partner's controversial tweet on the Kashmir issue, Commerce minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday
after it faced calls for a boycott of its cars, but there have been demands for the company to apologise unequivocally over its Pakistan
there."This issue has been taken up both with the government there and the company concerned," Mr 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, Priyanka Chaturvedi of
Shiv Sena 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/ 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
and ensure companies that operate here do not challenge the sovereignty of the country".A row had erupted on February 6, a day after
Pakistan marked the annual Kashmir Solidarity Day, when posts on behalf of Hyundai's partner Nishat Group appeared on Twitter, Facebook
and Instagram.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
