“This is the 25th year of my shop. I arrived in Mulund Colony as a refugee from Pakistan when I was 12 and I never faced any problems all these years and wouldn’t want any now. They (MNS activists) wanted me to change the name of my shop because it is named after Pakistan’s former capital and if obliging them would ensure that my business continues normally then I am willing to meet their demands.” Sachdev said.

Meanwhile, across the city, shops and restaurants with names associated with Pakistan or Pakistani cities were wary of speaking on the issue, all of them choosing to state that since they had not received any instructions from the MNS, they would just wait and watch. Several sweetshops are part of the Karachiwala chain, known for their Karachi halwa and other sweets.

On January 16, a couple of local MNS representatives had handed over a letter to Sachdev, asking him to comply with their demand in ten days. However, it took a mere two days for the fear psychosis to work and a sheet of paper covered the shop’s name on Friday. A police van also stationed itself opposite the shop and Deputy Commissioner of Police Dilip Sawant met Sachdev, assuring him that he would get police protection. After being directed by a police official, Sachdev grudgingly removed the blank sheet covering his shop’s signboard around noon, but maintained that he will rename his shop.

The police arrested six MNS representatives, including Rajendra Deshmukh who had signed the letter, on Friday evening. “We had given the letter to Sachdev and notified the police as well. Our motive was to discourage any Pakistani symbols from India, especially after 26/11. However, they have arrested us even when we didn’t do anything,” Deshmukh said.

Sachdev, however, stresses he had not wanted to involve the police as he personally knew the MNS representatives. “Our sweets make our brand and not vice versa. All our patrons will remain faithful to us, with or without the name. Moreover, I share a rapport with these MNS representatives and while handing over the letter they had addressed me as uncle and ‘requested’ me to oblige them,” he said.