The protest organised by SIO Calicut outside a Zudio store in the district. (image-Facebook/SIO Kozhikode)
Calicut, Kerala: Amid a growing wave of nationwide protests, the Student Islamic Organisation (SIO) in Calicut staged a demonstration outside Zudio, a Tata-owned fashion retail outlet, on May 28, calling for a boycott of Tata products over the conglomerate’s alleged links to Israeli military operations in Gaza.
The protest in Kozhikode follows a coordinated national campaign led by Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine (IPSP), with similar demonstrations held in cities like Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Patna, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Rohtak, and Vijayawada in the past few days.
Also Read | After Toddler’s Viral Request, Kerala Adds Biryani To Anganwadi Menu
Protesters at the Kozhikode demonstration waved Palestinian flags, wore keffiyehs, and held up placards reading “Boycott Zudio”, “Tata is a baby killer”, and “Free Palestine”. A bloodied dummy symbolising a child killed in Gaza was held aloft as a visual reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Speaking to Timeline, SIO Calicut President Muhammed Shafaque said, “Reports related to Tata and its various investments in Israel have been coming up. Since Zudio is a Tata platform that is largely accessed by the public, we conducted the protest there to spread awareness.”
He clarified that Zudio wasn’t singled out as a special target. “We are running campaigns to boycott different brands supporting genocide. Zudio, being a highly visited outlet, served as a symbolic protest site to generate public attention.”
According to Shafaque, around 50 people participated in the protest, which resulted in the temporary closure of the Zudio outlet for over an hour and a half.
View this post on Instagram
The SIO alleges that Tata Group’s involvement in the Israeli arms and surveillance sector includes supplying Land Rover vehicles used by the Israeli military and holding long-standing aerospace investments in Israel since 2008.
“There are also reports that missiles used in Gaza were manufactured in Tata factories,” Shafaque claimed. “Tata, being an Indian brand and still enabling a genocide, is especially disturbing to us.”
With Eid approaching, the SIO plans to use upcoming public gatherings to continue raising awareness about the situation in Palestine. “We are considering more programmes to reach out to people during the festive season,” Shafaque said.
Responding to critics who question student organisations focusing on international issues, Shafaque emphasised SIO’s long-standing commitment to justice, crossing borders.
Also Read | Shashi Tharoor Won’t Contest Lok Sabha Polls From Thiruvananthapuram Again, He Would Now….: Report
“Talk about injustice happening anywhere has been our avid aim,” he said. “SIO has stood with oppressed people everywhere – from Gaza to Black communities in the US. We do not view justice through nation-state borders.”
Launched in 2016, Zudio is owned by Trent Ltd. of the Tata Group, currently operates over 750 outlets in the country and is expanding in the Middle East.
(This story was written with inputs and insights from Kabani R)
