Hyderabad — Members of the Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine (IPSP) staged a demonstration outside a Mahindra Automotive showroom in Nacharam, Hyderabad, on Saturday, calling attention to what they described as the company’s links with the Israeli economy and its alleged complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, reported the Siasat.
The protest, part of a coordinated national campaign, featured a street play portraying the Palestinian struggle and called on the Indian public to support the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against corporations tied to Israel. Activists performed a symbolic drama that depicted characters representing Palestine, Israel, Mahindra, and the average Indian citizen. The play aimed to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel’s role in the devastation, and Mahindra’s alleged involvement.
The Hyderabad protest was one of several held across the country, with similar actions reported in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Rohtak, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Patna. In recent months, IPSP has also protested against other companies such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Tata’s Zudio, Reliance Retail, and Domino’s, accusing them of supporting or profiting from Israel’s war efforts.
Addressing the gathering, IPSP representative Sreeja stated, “In the past two years, Israel has killed over 60,000 people in Palestine, most of whom are women and children. Nearly 4 lakh people are missing, and countless others are injured. Gaza remains under a complete blockade, with starvation being used as a weapon. Even those waiting at aid distribution centers have been murdered.”
Yashwanth, another IPSP activist, highlighted Mahindra’s connections with Israeli defense and tech firms. He pointed to Mahindra Aerostructures’ 2017 collaboration with Cyclone, a subsidiary of Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, and cited a 2018 meeting between Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as evidence of deepening business ties. He also referenced a more recent deal signed in August 2024 with Sentrycs Ltd. for UAV technology.
“These business relations help normalize Israel’s settler-colonial policies and war crimes,” said Yashwanth. “Mahindra must be held accountable and boycotted.”
Geetha from the Disha Students’ Organisation drew parallels with the global anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, stressing the role of people’s resistance and economic pressure. “We urge the citizens of India to take a stand with Palestine, which is essentially a stand for humanity,” she said. She also demanded that the Indian government, corporate sector, and other institutions sever all ties with what she called the “Zionist entity.”
The organizers reported a positive response from the public during the event, with many people accepting pamphlets and engaging in discussions. The IPSP, along with other allied groups, pledged to continue their grassroots activism until the “liberation of Palestine.”
