Hyderabad-based Karachi Bakery faces controversy over its Pakistani name connection
Hyderabad: Karachi Bakery, a popular Indian bakery chain, is once again at the center of controversy following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including 25 Indians and one Nepali national, has sparked a fresh wave of protests over the bakery’s name.
In response to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting nine suspected terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This military action follows heightened tensions between the two countries after the Pahalgam attack.
Karachi Bakery, founded in 1953 by Khanchand Ramnani, a Sindhi Hindu migrant from Karachi, Pakistan, has faced criticism in the past due to its name, which references Karachi, Pakistan. The bakery operates multiple outlets across India, including in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi, and exports its products to several international markets.
The controversy surrounding the bakery resurfaced when the members of Jana Jagrana Samiti, staged a protest outside the Karachi Bakery outlet in Visakhapatnam on May 6, 2025. The group called for the removal of the name “Karachi” from all bakery branches across India, arguing that it was inappropriate to maintain a connection to a Pakistani city amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Vamsi Yadav, a national executive member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), spoke during the protest, stating, “While Pakistani terrorists ruthlessly kill Indians, it is shameful to flaunt names linked to Pakistan.” Vamsi Yadav demanded that the bakery’s management remove all references to Karachi within 10 days, warning that failure to do so would result in further action.
The protest was attended by several members of the Jana Jagrana Samiti, including state convener SLN Vasu and Vizag city convener Chintapalli Sunil Kumar, among others.
Karachi Bakery, in a statement posted at the entrance of its outlet in Hyderabad, sought to clarify its origins. “Karachi Bakery was founded by Khanchand Ramnani, who migrated to India during the partition. The brand was established in 1953 and is an Indian company based in Hyderabad, Telangana. The essence of Karachi Bakery is absolutely Indian by heart and will remain so,” the statement read.
The bakery urged the public to refrain from spreading misconceptions about its origins.
