Following public outcry over a Delhi restaurant allegedly denying entry to a couple for wearing Indian attire, tourism minister Kapil Mishra intervened. The restaurant owner has since apologized and pledged to eliminate the discriminatory dress code policy.
NEW DELHI: Following a backlash over a couple allegedly being denied entry to a restaurant due to their Indian attire, Delhi tourism minister Kapil Mishra on Friday said the owner has issued a video apologising for the incident and announced special discounts for women wearing traditional outfits on the occasion of Rakshabandhan.The incident occurred at a restaurant on the Pitampura metro premises on Aug 3. The video circulating on social media showed a man in a T-shirt, accompanied by a woman in a ‘kurta-salwar’, complaining about being denied entry for wearing Indian outfits. The couple also alleged that the restaurant staff misbehaved with them.After the video began circulating on the internet, chief minister Rekha Gupta directed the officials to initiate an investigation and take necessary action.
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Talking to reporters, Mishra said it appeared that the restaurant may have had an unofficial policy disallowing entry to people in Indian attire while allowing those in western clothing.“The chief minister saw the video this morning and instructed us to immediately look into the matter. We spoke to the officials concerned. The district magistrate, along with officials, also spoke directly to the restaurant owner. The owner has now agreed that no such policy on dress code will be enforced in the restaurant,” the minister said, adding, a notice has been posted outside the restaurant that clearly states that guests wearing Indian attire are welcome.Mishra said any form of restriction or discrimination based on Indian clothing, whether in Delhi or anywhere in the country, was unacceptable. “We will not tolerate such discrimination. The restaurant owner has apologised and publicly committed to changing their policy,” he added.Talking to reporters, Neeraj Agarwal, the owner of the restaurant, said the video was from Sunday, Aug 3, when the outlet was crowded. “Ma’am must have thought that as she had to wait for a longer time… and then something might have happened. After seeing the video (of the couple), I would also think that something wrong must have happened, but that’s not the case. We welcome everyone, whether in a saree or a suit or any other dress. This is a family restaurant and there was no discrimination,” Agarwal said.“We have just one request, please visit with prior reservations so that nobody has to face any inconvenience,” he added, while extending an invitation to CM Rekha Gupta and minister Kapil Mishra to visit the restaurant.
