Hindutva organisation forces delivery boy to remove Santa costume in Madhya Pradesh

December 27, 2024 by News Desk

A Zomato delivery agent in Indore faced harassment on Christmas Day when he was forced to remove his Santa Claus costume, a gesture initiated by the company to spread festive cheer.

The incident, caught on video, has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism.

The footage shows the rider, identified as Arjun, being confronted by a person off-camera, allegedly associated with the Hindu Jagran Manch.

The individual questioned why Zomato agents did not dress up for Hindu festivals and accused the rider of promoting Christian traditions.

“Why don’t you wear Lord Ram’s costume or saffron clothes during Hindu festivals?” the man asked. Despite Arjun’s explanation that the costume was provided by Zomato, he was coerced into removing his Santa outfit, including the cap, jacket, and trousers, amid his protests that this could affect his job.

The individual in the video was heard saying, “These are the kind of people who ignore Hindu festivals but enthusiastically celebrate Christian and Islamic ones,” before concluding with “Jai Shree Ram” after the rider complied.

The video, shared widely on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), has garnered millions of views and sparked outrage over the treatment of low-paid gig workers.

Many criticized Zomato for its silence on the matter, calling for stronger support for its employees.