Muthoot withdraws Talibanic circular, apologises

Source: News Bharati

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Copy of Muthoot's controversial circular

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Thiruvananthpuram, October 3 : Muthoot Finance Corporation has withdrawn it’s controversial circular which banned it’s employees from following many Hindu conventions. The Controversial circular included a ban on sporting ‘Bindi’ or ‘Sindoor’ (बिन्दी /कुंकूम तीलक/ सिंदूर) which is essential to wear for every lady according to Hindu tradition. There was a huge outcry from Hindu community protesting the controversial circular as ‘Talibanic’. The circular was issued around the first week of September.

Muthoot Fin Corp has reissued circular regarding their dresscode omitting the controversial portions, in response to the stepped up the protests from Hindu organisations against the ‘Talibanic’ circular, which affected Hindu employees. The original controversial circular has been withdrawn with immediate effect.

Following compromise talks with Hindu Aikya Vedi leaders, Muthoot told the HAV leaders that the circular was not intended to hurt the sentiments of any religious group and apologised for the hurt caused.

Hindu community took protest marches to Muthoot firm offices. The Muthoot is a leading money lending group in Kerala. Their dress-code circular which warned of strict actions against it’s employees who put Bindhi or Sindhoor in forehead had invited wrath of Hindu organizations. Even Dr Subrahmanyam Swamy had warned Muthoot group of legal action. The pressure mounted from Hindu community had made the group to withdraw the circular.

Thomas John, MD of the Muthoot group, along with their legal advisors were participated with the talks with the HAV leaders. The HAV was represented by E S Biju, Brahmachari Bhargava Ram, K N Venkateswaran, Devi Das, Thirumala Anilkumar and Sandeep Thampanoor.