OlaCabs rejects ‘Hindu’ driver plea

Hyderabad: In the early hours of Tuesday, S. Veerapa Naidu, a Hyderabadi cab user, had asked OlaCabs for a “Hindu driver”. Mr Naidu had said that he prefers a driver of Hindu faith as he is a Hindu, and he wanted the company to give a chance to customers to choose a driver. The request was made on the social networking site Twitter. In reaction, OlaCabs promptly said that the company did not discriminate against their drivers on the basis of religion.

The reply from the cab company drew accolades from various quarters, including rival cab companies like Uber and Easy Cabs.

The man who caused the furore had commented on Twitter: “Being a Hindu, I usually prefer a driver of Hindu faith only, particularly in Hyderabad. Pls give us a chance to choose a driver.” (sic)

To this, OlaCabs responded with: ”Sorry, we do not discriminate against our drivers on the basis of their religion.”

While the social media went on an overdrive condemning Mr Naidu's “communal” request, he went on the ask: “Why should it be seen as discrimination instead of Consumer Preference.”

In reaction, Parikshit Shah @imparixit wrote, “what if cab has no petrol and nearest petrol pump is owned by Muslim?” After a slew of angry messages being shot back at him, Mr Naidu finally tweeted back, “My intention was not to hurt anyone.”