Communal bigotry is increasingly becoming okay in some sections of the country, and a man named Abhishek Mishra displayed this on April 20, when he tweeted that he had cancelled a cab because the driver was a Muslim. The man, whose Twitter bio declares “ideology first”, is a part of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and his tweet about why he cancelled a cab created quite a controversy.
On Sunday, Ola reacted to Abhishek Mishra’s tweet, and many are hailing the company for standing up to bigotry and hate. While Abhishek had tweeted that he did not want to give his money to “Jihadi people”, Ola replied that they are a secular platform, and do not discriminate against their driver partners or their customers on the basis of their caste, religion, gender or creed.
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
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
Following Ola’s tweet, many users applauded the cab aggregator for taking a stand against bigotry and for urging its customers and driver partners to treat each other with respect.
Much respect to Ola for a really really great reply.
— Anoo Bhuyan (@AnooBhu) April 22, 2018
Can't imagine this was easy for them, but stay strong as bhakts downgrade your app... (but they won't boycott you yaar... they also need to reach office)https://t.co/pgtodLONyC
Now wait and see, a bunch of Bhakts will threaten to boycott Ola for being secular
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) April 22, 2018
But let me remind every company & celebrity out there. Don't be scared, these brainless Bhakts are rarely ever your customers. Enjoy free publicity, no one cares about their paid communal outrage https://t.co/1qly5C3TAd
Well done @Olacabs ..... respect !!
— amey tirodkar (@ameytirodkar) April 22, 2018
I am installing Ola App now. https://t.co/YsxjCAyJ4C
— Srinivas singer (@singersrinivas) April 23, 2018
Now wait and see, a bunch of Bhakts will threaten to boycott Ola for being secular
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) April 22, 2018
But let me remind every company & celebrity out there. Don't be scared, these brainless Bhakts are rarely ever your customers. Enjoy free publicity, no one cares about their paid communal outrage https://t.co/1qly5C3TAd
Many pointed out that Abhishek Mishra, who has a verified profile, was being followed by a number of Union Ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan and Mahesh Sharma.
Well said Ola, unfortunately, our politicians who follow this bigot do not feel the need to speak up https://t.co/qapdiJt2V7
— sarah jacob (@sjacobtalk) April 23, 2018
So this bigot who cancelled Ola ride coz driver was a Muslim, is a SM consultant at Ministry of Transport, @UPGovt ! And previously was with Ministry of Commerce, GOI ! Do we expect any action by @myogiadityanath ? pic.twitter.com/v38MeCddRd
— कोमल :)(@Komal_Indian) April 22, 2018