An elderly man wearing tilak on his forehead refused to give food to a Muslim woman for not saying ‘Jai Shri Ram outside the Tata hospital in Mumbai
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In an appaling incident, a Hijab clad Muslim woman was hushed away and denied food by a Hindu distributor who dictated that she will be given food only if she says ‘Jai Shri Ram.’
The incident took place near the Tata hospital in Mumbai.
According to reports, some non-governmental organisations (NGO) distributed food to the patients and their family members who visit the hospital for the treatment. An elderly man wearing tilak on his forehead was distributing food to a number of people standing in queue. The Muslim woman was also standing in queue waiting for her turn to be served with food. However, the distributor refused to give food to the woman because of her religious identity and for not saying ‘Jai Shri Ram’ as he had sought.
A few video clips recorded by a man who described himself as a news reporter in the video, can be seen questioning the distributor about the reason for refusing the food to the woman.
It can be seen in the video that the distributor is telling the woman to get out of the queue if she does not say ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
“Tell her that if anyone does not say ‘Jai Shri Ram’, should not stand in the queue. Get out of the queue,” said the elderly man, who was distributing food for charity, in a threatening tone. However, the woman refused to go away from the site resisting that the area did not belong to his father.
Meanwhile, an onlooker said that this is wrong to put the condition of saying ‘Jai Shri Ram’ for giving food. “If you are here to serve food, serve only food and leave,” he said.
The distributor, however, remained adament and said repeatedly that that if you will say ‘Jai Shri Ram’, you will get food. Else, it will not be given.
The distributor continues to justify his communal rant while asking the needy to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. He also called the woman “trouble maker” and asked the videographer to stop filming.
The video of the incident drew criticism from socail media users and prominent figures. People sharply criticised the behaviour of the food distributor.
Prominent comedian Rajiv Nigam said “This Annadaata Chacha is hell bent on forcing others to say Jai Shri Ram… or else he won’t give food… Hey Chacha, Lord Ram himself has given you this good fortune that your duty is to distribute food, now you yourself have become God, be afraid of Ram Ji a little, hooliganism in his name? It is the same Ram who gives food to everyone. He doesn’t tell anyone to take his name first”.
Another X user Nitin Gaurav said “If this is true, it’s really concerning what political interests can do just to stay in power. As a Hindu, I do worry about how times are changing, but I keep faith in my own choices. I’m studying at a university with a diverse community, and I take pride in that.Shame”.
Reacting to the behaviour of the distributor, historian Dr. Ruchika Sharm said that only insecure people indulge in such behaviour.
“Contrast this with Sikhs distributing food. Absolutely no discrimination. Pure charity for the love of humanity. Thats culture. Maybe because the concept of Langar (open kitchen) has been intrinsic to the histories of both Muslims and Sikhs for centuries now, they know that the point of charity is not to force your gods on others. Only deeply insecure people do that,” said Sharma.
