Following an attack on a couple from Lausanne, Switzerland, in Fatehpur Sikri, Agra on Sunday, a radio channel ran a campaign called #MatAaoIndia. However, what they said was intended to be an indirect commentary on India’s poor security, backfired heavily on the radio channel.
Soon, owing to massive criticism, Radio Mirchi had to apologise.
Akash Banerjee, Vice President of the channel, shared a video urging foreign tourists not to visit India with a campaign hasgtag #MatAaoIndia. While Banerjee has since deleted his tweet, you can see the screenshots here.
The campaign received massive backlash. What particularly irked users was that the channel head tagged the International Service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation in the campaign.
This is one campaign I wish Indians to follow: #MatSunoMirchi
Tag: @malviyamit @TajinderBagga please do it..https://t.co/UqwPUATD5b— Mihir Jha ✍️ (@MihirkJha) October 26, 2017
Many social media users also registered their complaints with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), which promised to look into the matter.
The back was enough for the radio channel to post an apology by Friday afternoon.
Not just this, a website reported that the I&B Ministry headed by Smriti Irani issued show cause notice to the channel for its ‘anti-India campaign’.