Dairy Queen hopes to resolve anti-Hindu displays issue

Dairy Queen (DQ) Corporation anticipates change of ownership of its Kemah (Texas) restaurant, reportedly displaying anti-Hindu signs, soon and expects that this change will resolve the issue.

Dean A. Peters, Associate Vice President of Communications of American Dairy Queen Corporation headquartered in Minneapolis, in an email response to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, wrote on March 24: "A change of ownership is anticipated for this location sometime between now and the end of the month.  We will continue to work with all parties toward the closing of this transaction in the near future.  We expect that this issue will be resolved at that time." 

Peters also mentioned: "Please know that like the vast majority of Dairy Queen® restaurants, the Kemah restaurant is owned and operated by an independent business owner, under a license from American Dairy Queen Corporation.  The actions and statements of this individual franchisee are not representative of ADQ's corporate values, nor of our iconic family brand.  We support and welcome all customers, and expect our franchisees to do the same."

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that DQ appeared to have been shirking from its responsibility by not formally apologizing for allowing these derogatory signs reportedly posted at the Kemah restaurant for many months.

Rajan Zed pointed out that DQ seemed to have even failed to follow its own "Mission Statement: To create positive memories for all who touch DQ" by permitting such disparaging signs.

Zed further said that DQ should not be in the business of belittling religions. Posters reportedly displayed at its Kemah store were highly inappropriate and trivialized the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a highly philosophical thought.

Rajan Zed noted that in addition to arranging to remove these anti-Hindu displays from Kemah DQ, the upset Hindu community was also expecting a formal apology from International Dairy Queen Inc. CEO John P. Gainor Junior.

International Dairy Queen Inc.; based in Minneapolis; is a subsidiary of Omaha headquartered Berkshire Hathaway Inc.; serving treats and food in over 6,600 locations in USA, Canada and 28 other countries since 1940. Warren E. Buffett is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

The Gayly - 3/28/2016 @ 10:17 a.m. CST