NEW DELHI, 13 February 2022, (TON): Hundreds of Hindu nationalist protesters marched in the Indian state of Gujarat, prompting the closure of stores owned by several multinational companies caught up in a furore over social media posts supporting occupied Kashmir.

The messages were posted last week by the Pakistani branches of firms including Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and fast food chains Domino's Pizza, Yum Brand Inc's Pizza Hut and KFC, which also operate in India.

They were issued by the companies on February 5 to coincide with Pakistan's Kashmir Solidarity Day, held annually to commemorate the sacrifices of Kashmiris struggling for self-determination, and caused anger among social media users in India.

Dinesh Navadiya, national treasurer of Hindu nationalist organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), told media during a protest in the city of Surat “these companies cannot be doing business in India and at the same time supporting Pakistan's stand on Kashmir.”

Shouting slogans such as “Kashmir is Ours” and wearing saffron scarves, more than 100 members of Bajrang Dal, another Hindu nationalist group, also joined the protest one of several held in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Both the VHP and Bajrang Dal are linked to Modi's ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).