Israel envoy in Gujarat, ‘Hitler’ owners agree to change store name

The proprietors of 'Hitler' men's garment store in the posh Vastrapur neighbourhood of the city have decided to change the shop's name reportedly due to "political pressure" and protest calls from across the world.

Proprietor Rajesh Shah told The Indian Express that he and his business partner Manish Chandani took the decision on Monday evening because they were "getting political pressure" to do so.

Incidentally, Israeli Consul-General Orna Sagiv was in Gandhinagar today.

But Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra said there had been no complaints from the Israeli government although his office did receive several complaints via email.

However, according to an Associated Press report, the Israeli envoy complained to state officials about the shop's name.

The report quoted Sagiv as saying that she asked officials to intervene to help get the store's name changed. She said she tried to explain to them "how grave and serious the issue is".

The proprietors said it may take a few days to change the shop's board — adorned with the word Hitler and 'i' dotted with a Nazi swastika.

"We received at least 10 calls everyday from the US, the UK, Dubai, Germany and Israel. It was getting very annoying, as many of these people called at odd hours," said Shah.

Chandani and Shah said they have not received any legal notices, but some men identifying themselves as employees of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) visited the store and showed them printouts of emails sent to municipal commissioner. The emails were all protest mails seeking AMC's intervention to effect a change of name, they added.

Shah said the registration process for the shop is currently pending with the AMC and the visit by civic officials played a big role in the decision to change the name.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Astronomy buffs geared up for meteor shower

Narendra Modi dials Lalu, enquires about health after car accident

From Ramdev stage in Haridwar, Modi swears by gurus of all hues

PIL puts Tata Motors, state govt in the dock over Nano deal