A case of discrimination against a Kashmiri resident has emerged after he was denied entry by a hotel in New Delhi allegedly on the “instructions of Delhi Police”.
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media wherein the receptionist denies entry to the Kashmiri man even after he provides Aadhaar card and passport.
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In the video, the receptionist can be seen calling her senior later asking the reason why the man was being denied entry.
She asks the person to talk to the guest and tell him why he was being denied accommodation.
Syed, a resident of Srinagar, who works in a multi-national company as an auditor said on Wednesday he booked the room through booking.com on 22 March at around 8am and when he reached the hotel “The Pleasant Inn”, he was denied the room after the receptionist saw his Aadhar card.
Syed, who wished not to reveal his full name due to fear of reprisal, has said that he was hurt after being denied accommodation despite advance booking via online hotel booking website OYO.
“When I reached there, the lady receptionist asked me for my Aadhar card to complete the booking formalities, which I did,” he said.
He further added that the receptionist then rang one of the officials of the hotel and asked that a customer from Kashmir has a booking.
“I think he must have told her to deny the room because as soon as he dropped the call, the receptionist told me that we can’t provide a room to a Kashmiri. After I asked for the reason she said the Delhi Police has instructed us to do so,” he said.
Syed, in the video can be seen demanding to know the reasons from the receptionist for the denial of room.
He said, “I am giving you my identity card. Here is my Aadhaar Card. Why are you denying it?” When the female employee said she had orders not to give room to anyone with an ID from Kashmir, he said, “I can give you my passport as well.” As Kashmir’s address was mentioned on the passport, it was denied as well.
The video, which was shot by the Kashmir resident himself, was shared by many on social media.
The man said that he has been living in different states of the country for the last 12 years and has never faced such humiliation.
“I think the hotel owner might have some issues with Kashmiris otherwise there was no advisory from the police,” he said adding that “he got a room in another hotel in the same locality within no time,”
Delhi Police Denies Allegations
Public Relations of the Delhi Police (PRO) Suman Nalwa said that they don’t have any information regarding the incident and neither did anyone file a complaint.
“If anyone comes with a complaint, we will look into it,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Wednesday, issued a clarification, denying any such direction being issued and said, “Aggrieved person in the video while posting the same on YouTube has stated that he stayed in the same area in another hotel and it was a lame excuse given by the hotel.”
“Some netizens are trying to discredit the image of Delhi Police through willful misrepresentation of the video and could attract penal action,” the Police added.