“Thanks for your application. We regret to inform you that we hire only non-Muslim candidates,” this is what the company replied to Zeshan Ali Khan, an MBA graduate.

Khan who has done his MBA in International Business applied to Hare Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd on Tuesday as he realised the company’s global market presence. He applied for a job along with his other friends expecting a positive reply from the company, which has its main office in Mumbai.

“Along with a bunch of friends, I forwarded my resume to the company. Almost half of them were immediately placed. I got a reply within 20 minutes of my application. I was shocked when I read it,” Khan told The Hindu .

“Initially, I thought it was a joke. Had they wanted to reject my application they could have given other excuses…,” he added.

The case has gained attention after Khan posted his experience on Facebook on Tuesday, May 19. As an outcome of a social media bashing Khan has received an official clarification from them.

“We would like to clarify that the company does not discriminate against candidates based on gender, caste, religion, etc. Any hurt caused in the matter is deeply regretted,” said Mahendra S. Deshmukh, Associate VP & Head-HR of the company.

It’s sad to see how i n the secular environment of our nation, such discrimination still breathes.