Meesho Faces Backlash for Selling Gangster T-Shirts

New Delhi : Meesho, an e-commerce platform, has faced backlash for selling t-shirts featuring the likeness of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The issue was highlighted by filmmaker Alishan Jafri, who called it an example of "India's latest online radicalisation." The t-shirts, which retail for as low as ₹168, come printed with Bishnoi's picture and some include the word "gangster." The t-shirts have come under fire for glorifying crime and targeting children. Bishnoi and his syndicate have been involved in high-profile crimes, including the shooting of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and death threats to actor Salman Khan. The Bishnoi gang has also been linked to the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique last month.

Jafri criticized the sale of gangster merchandise on platforms like Meesho and Teeshopper, stating that social media influencers are making quick money by promoting gang content and glorifying gangsters. He provided real-life examples of gangster content causing harm to young people, such as a 15-year-old from Deoria who killed his friend inspired by gangster content.

The issue of gangster t-shirts on Meesho has brought the e-commerce website a lot of negative scrutiny, with some users calling for Meesho to be de-platformed and others expressing concerns about the gangster culture destroying India.