As we prepare to welcome 2025 and bid farewell to this year, it seems some societal rigidities and intolerances refuse to fade. In a disheartening incident from Indore, a Zomato delivery executive dressed as Santa Claus on Christmas Day¡ªa gesture in line with the company's festive policy¡ªwas confronted by a passerby who demanded he change out of the outfit, and the video is now going viral.
An X account called 'hate detector' shared a video showing an unsettling interaction between a Zomato delivery person and a passerby in Indore.?
In the clip, the delivery guy, dressed as Santa Claus in line with Zomato's holiday policy, explains, "This is what Zomato has asked some people to wear."
However, the man questioning him responds, "Most orders are from Hindus, so why wear this outfit? If it's Diwali, should we dress up like that too?" He continues, "What message are you sending to families by wearing a Santa Claus costume today?"
The delivery person tries to explain, "Yeh toh pata nahi, yeh toh company ne diya hai." ("I don't know, the company gave it to me"), but the man dismisses his response, panning the camera to other Zomato riders nearby who aren't wearing Santa costumes.?
Shockingly, the man demands to know the delivery person's full name and, upon learning he's Hindu, orders him to remove the outfit, saying, "Arjun bhai, aap Hindu hai. Aapke Santa Claus costume pehen ke kya sandesh dena chahte ho? Utaaro yeh." ("Arjun brother, you are Hindu. What message are you trying to send by wearing this Santa Claus costume? Take it off").
Despite the rider's pleas that his company ID could be blocked, he is forced to strip off his red Santa jacket and trousers.?
The man making the demand is heard saying, "Ye iss tareeke ke log hain jo ki Hindu tyohaaro pe inki buddhi lagbhag maari jaati hai aur Christian aur Islamic tyohaar pe inko bahut achche sandesh dene rehta hain." ("These are the kind of people who forget Hindu festivals and always have to send messages during Christian or Islamic holidays.")
The video ends with the man thanking the Zomato rider for removing the outfit, saying "Jai Shree Ram."
In the comments, one person rightly noted, "He can't win. If he wears Lord Ram's outfit, they'll snap. If he wears the Christmas outfit, they'll snap. Just don't deliver to them during their holidays and keep moving."
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