‘Explore The World From Nagpur,’ Qatar Airways Ad Says Amid Calls To Boycott Airline By Right-Wing In India

Is it photoshopped? Are they trolling? Or is it just a coincidence? Social media is rife with speculations about an advertisement on the website of Qatar Airways asking people to “explore the world from Nagpur”, amid calls to boycott the airways by the right-wing in India.

Calls to boycott Qatar Airways are being made by fringe elements in India after the Qatar government summoned the Indian Ambassador, Dr Deepak Mittal, expressing the country’s disappointment and condemnation of the blasphemous comments made by BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal against the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

Many Hindu outfits, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the fountainhead of Hindutva ideology questioned the Qatar government’s stand on the blasphemous statements, which has enraged Muslims across the world.

The RSS is headquartered in Nagpur.

So, is Qatar Airways trolling the RSS?

No. Last week (June 2), Qatar Airways restarted its flights on the Doha-Nagpur-Doha sector after keeping the operations closed for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is big news for the Nagpur airport. After the success of Air-Arabia on Sharjah-Nagpur sector, we kept working hard for the new foreign airlines and now Qatar Airways have confirmed that from June 2, it will start its regular services to Doha. Huge thumbs up for Nagpur. Hard work pays,” a recent tweet from Deepak Kapoor, managing director of Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) Limited had read.

The ad that appears on the website of the airline read: “Fly from Nagpur, on any one of our 4 weekly flights and enhance your experience on your next holiday from India, to over 140 incredible destinations worldwide via Hamad International Airport in Doha.”

“Stretch out in spacious seating and allow Qatar Airways to treat you to a degree of luxurious travel you’ll always remember.”

“Embark on your next adventure with the World’s Best Airline and discover somewhere new, explore places you have always dreamt of visiting and create lifelong memories,” the ad further read.