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Ambani's Reliance withdraws trademark application for codename "Pakistan strikes"

After a social media backlash, the film studio of Asia's richest person Mukesh Ambani retracted its trademark application for the codename used to describe India's military strike against Pakistan.

Reliance, the conglomerate owned by billionaire Ambani, said in a statement that the trademark application had been filed accidentally and without authorization by a junior employee at Jio Studios. It added that "Operation Sindoor," as a symbol of Indian courage, was now "part of the national consciousness."

India claimed it had struck "terrorists infrastructure" in Pakistani Kashmir and Pakistan earlier this week, after militants in Indian Kashmir killed 26 men - mostly Hindus. The attack on the Hindu widows was referred to by the term Sindoor (red vermilion powder) worn by married Hindu woman.

Reliance made its statement after social media users published screenshots from the Indian government's website, which showed that Reliance and some other individuals had applied for trademark registration.

"This isn’t branding, this is blatant mockery... it's disturbing to watch something so serious be reduced to a laugh," posted a X user identified as Archana pawar.

Aniruddh Sharma - a spokesperson of India's main Opposition Congress Party - questioned Ambani about why he was trying to register a trademark in order to gain business benefits.

Reliance stated in its application that it is for "provision, production, presentation, and distribution of audio-visual entertainment".

Bollywood films about India's past military operations are hugely popular. In 2019, the film "Uri", which is based on India’s previous "surgical attacks" on alleged Islamist terrorist launchpads on Pakistani territory was released in sixteen countries, including India.

Islamabad claimed at the time that there had not been an Indian incursion on its territory, and no Pakistani forces had retaliated.

Reliance merged with Walt Disney last year its Indian media assets to create an entertainment empire worth $8.5 billion. The company runs multiple channels and a streaming service. (Reporting and editing by Aditya K. Kalra, Aidan Lewis and Arpan Chaturvedi)

(source: Reuters)