Food Has No Religion? Zomato Hindu & Muslim Delivery Boys Protest Against Delivery Beef & Pork

Within days of Zomato¡¯s stand ¡®Food has no religion, food IS religion¡¯, the company has landed in religion-related controversy again. This time the rift is internal.

Zomato delivery boys plan to go on a strike on Monday to protest that the food that they deliver is affecting their religious sentiments.The delivery boys are refusing to deliver beef or pork during the celebration of Bakrid or Eid al-Adha which is on Monday.

Mousin Akhtar, a Zomato staff reportedly said, "Recently some Muslim restaurants have been added to the online food delivery app. But we have some Hindu delivery boy who are denying to delivery beef. And it's been heard that in few days we have to deliver Pork, which we refuse to deliver. We are also facing pay out issues and have least medical facilities. All these are hampering the fraternal bond between us as we have to deliver food which is not permitted by our religion. Our religious sentiment is being hurt. The company knows everything, but in spite of helping us they are using false allegations against us."

Representation Image/AFP

Another Zomato delivery staff, Bajraj Nath Brahma,in Howrah reportedly said, "I am Hindu. There are also other fellow delivery boys who are Muslim. We have no issues in working together. Zomato has presently tied up with some new restaurants that are repelling us to work under any circumstances and we cannot cancel any order at any cost. If any of us deny delivering any particular food then this would fall under denial dispute which would be followed up by manager. The Muslims are equally feeling hurt with this decision as we Hindus are. The company is hurting our religious sentiment. We want this to be stopped immediately. Hence from Monday we have stopped our service."

Representation Image/AFP

Supporting the delivery staff West Bengal Minister and TMC MLA from Howrah Rajib Banerjee reportedly said,"I too feel that the organization performing such act should think about their action once again. They should not force any sect to go against the rules of their religion. This is very wrong. We had no idea about such actions. Since we have been approached, we shall surely take action against such deeds."