#BoycottZoho Trends After CEO Accepts Invite to RSS Event

Software and CRM company Zoho Corp’s co-founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu found himself in the middle of a Twitter storm after he tweeted about his attending a software event called Resurgent Bharath being organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Chennai on 2 February.

The event also listed Rama S Ramachandran, Accenture’s MD and Head of Operations Chennai as its guest of honour and Vembu was to be the chief guest. The event was to be attended by software professionals.

After the event invite went viral, a flurry of tweets questioned why these software professionals were part of this event. Popular sentiment is not in favour of the government at the moment because of the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the recent attacks at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Milia Islamia. The right-wing RSS is seen as the backbone of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Ramachandran tweeted later that he had nothing to do with the event.

I am not sure how this misunderstanding happened, but I have no affiliation with this group and never agreed to speak at or attend this event.

— Rama S. Ramachandran (@RamaAccenture) January 6, 2020

However, Vembu’s reply on Twitter created a bigger controversy drawing criticism from Twitter users.

Vembu replied: "I don’t decide my views based on Twitter attacks. If you dislike which events I attend, please do what your conscience dictates and I will do what mine dictates. We earn our daily bread due to our work and we will continue to do quality work. I won't be responding to attacks."

I don't decide my views based on Twitter attacks. If you dislike which events I attend, please do what your conscience dictates and I will do what mine dictates. We earn our daily bread due to our work and we will continue to do quality work. I won't be responding to attacks.

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) January 6, 2020

In response to Vembu’s stand, several Twitter users called for a boycott of Zoho and its products, with the hashtag #boycottzoho trending. Zoho does a lot of business with the middle-east countries as well.

This even after all that happened in #JNU. Thanks that this guy showed his true colours. If JNU incidents and Gujarat riots couldn't you. We know what are you made of. #BoycottZoho https://t.co/covVI0FovF

— #Sanskrit-is-a-Dead-Language (@KarikaalanArima) January 7, 2020

Need to start a campaign in GCC,UAE,MENA ,Malaysia and all Muslim countries to ignore
Zoho products .This is unacceptable comment rec'd from a corporate guy to support Dracula policy of India that sucks the blood of normal people #BoycottZoho https://t.co/Oym7lova8k

— OVURAMACHANDRAN (@ovurama) January 7, 2020

Users claiming to be loyal customers of Zoho tweeted looking to switch brands in response to Vembu’s stand.

We have been a loyal user of @zoho for past 5 years. We are now looking to switch our organisation to a different operating system. We currently spend 3.5 Lacs INR per year with them. Any suggestions? #zoho pic.twitter.com/aknRw7kWzz

— Aamir Qutub (@aamirqutub) January 7, 2020

For those asking here are alternatives to @zoho
- Pipedrive CRM
- Google Suite
- Office 365
- Fresh Sales and Fresh Desk
- Google Docs
- Sales Force
- Quick Books
- GreytHR
Never encourage fascism.

— Hypocrisy Watch (منافقت پر نظر) (@bigotry_watch) January 7, 2020

However, Vembu’s tweet also found support for taking a stand on the issue.

Sridhar Vembu gave a tight slap to this moron who thinks attending RSS events is problematic. The beauty is very same morons lecture the entire world about freedom of speech, expression & what not. Dolts think they rule the world by virtue & everybody should listen to them! https://t.co/pcO4CyEJ3U

— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) January 6, 2020

What is the credibility of those pointing fingers? Sridhar has been doing a phenomenal job of transforming the society without borrowing and providing jobs and career to thousands. It's his personal choice to attend a function.Why demonise RSS as well?

— G.K.RAJU (@GKRAJU1) January 6, 2020

While Ramachandran distanced himself and Accenture from being drawn into the controversy, Vembu’s stand has clearly split the IT fraternity in two – those who support his stand and those who don’t.