A Twitter user cancelled his Ola ride. Not because of poor ratings or long ETA, but because the driver was Muslim. The user tagged and tweeted at the ride-sharing app on Twitter which sent the social media portal in a frenzy.
Cancelled @Olacabs Booking because Driver was Muslim. I don’t want to give my money to Jihadi People. pic.twitter.com/1IIf4LlTZL
— Abhishek Mishra (@Abhishek_Mshra) April 20, 2018
The company was quick to respond to the statement. And instead of a cookie-cutter response we generally see from brands, Ola replied to the remark like this.
Ola, like our country, is a secular platform, and we don’t discriminate our driver partners or customers basis their caste, religion, gender or creed. We urge all our customers and driver partners to treat each other with respect at all times.
— Ola (@Olacabs) April 22, 2018
Many Twitter users reported the man’s account–for encouraging religious discrimination–in order to have it suspended.
I reporteद this account, @Twitter plz terminate this account. इस बेचारे ने बड़ी महनत से इतने followers इकट्ठे किये होंगे। pic.twitter.com/6Q2xrwkyia
— Rahis (@RahisKhanMev) April 22, 2018
Hi @ola_supports can you please block this user from your portal as he is encouraging religious discrimination and spreading hate against Muslims?
— A. k (@PaisaGetcom) April 21, 2018
While some showed their outrage out-rightly, others were subtle about it.
Teko bas baith ke jana tha, apne behen ki shaadi nahi karani thi us se.
— oreo (@gora_kauwaa) April 22, 2018
Cancelled an Ola cab because driver was a guy named Vikas and uske aane ki umeed thi nhi mujhe.
— A purvaa (@dreamy_indian) April 22, 2018
Cancelled Ola Cab because I don’t believe in god. pic.twitter.com/CrZMb8SalA
— Sahil Rizwan (@SahilRiz) April 23, 2018
I cancelled an Ola cab cz driver name was B R ambedkar aur usme seat nhi milti mereku.
— P. Gaindaswamy (@GaindaSwamy) April 23, 2018
Cancelled an Ola Cab because driver’s name was Salman Khan aur bhai saab main khda tha footpath pe… 🏃
— Dr. Gill (@ikpsgill1) April 23, 2018
Cancelled an Ola cab because driver’s name was Achhe Din and it’s been 4 years now and he’s still not here.
— Aavi (@poisonaavi) April 23, 2018
cancelled my ola because:a friend said bol pencil,i said pencil.he said teri ola cancel.
— nikhil (@niquotein) April 23, 2018
Canceled an Ola Cab booking today because driver’s name was Mahendra Singh Dhoni and he accepts only credit no cash.😛
— bhaavna arora (@BhaavnaArora) April 22, 2018
The man in question is allegedly a VHP member and defended his choice to cancel the ride by targeting users who had earlier cancelled Uber cabs due to the Hanuman sticker on them.
If this views acceptable then why my views are not acceptable ? pic.twitter.com/170MWQuBpn
— Abhishek Mishra (@Abhishek_Mshra) April 22, 2018
The debate against freedom of choice and religious discrimination continues on Twitter.
