Zomato snubs customer seeking non-Muslim rider, earns praise and brickbats

Topics Zomato

Food delivery company Zomato won both praise and brickbats online after it refused to entertain a customer's complaint about being assigned a Muslim delivery executive for his order.  

"Food doesn't have a religion. It is a religion," Zomato tweeted in response to the customer's request for changing the delivery executive. 

On Tuesday night, Amit Shukla, a resident of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, had tweeted about cancelling his Zomato order as the designated rider was a "non-Hindu". "Just cancelled an order on @ZomatoIN they allocated a non hindu rider for my food they said they can't change rider and can't refund on cancellation I said you can't force me to take a delivery I don't want don't refund just cancel," Shukla had tweeted. 

In a series of tweets, Shukla had also shared screenshots of his conversation with Zomato customer care, saying that he would take the issue to his lawyers. 

Food doesn’t have a religion. It is a religion. https://t.co/H8P5FlAw6y

— Zomato India (@ZomatoIN) July 31, 2019

However, Zomato stood its ground and refused to change the rider. Echoing his company's stand, Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal tweeted, "We are proud of the idea of India - and the diversity of our esteemed customers and partners. We aren't sorry to lose any business that comes in the way of our values." 

Zomato's response won it praise from many quarters. 

Responding to Goyal's tweet, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said he loved the Zomato app and thanked the company's founder for giving him a reason to admire the company behind it. 

Respect. I love your app. Thank you for giving me a reason to admire the company behind it. https://t.co/nohfkYsrJQ

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 31, 2019

Former finance minister and Congress leader, P Chidambaram, tweeted that now, he would order food from Zomato. 

I have not ordered food so far, but I think I will do so now from Zomato.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 31, 2019

Responding to Zomato's original tweet, Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker said that she hoped other companies and brands also learn decency of public conduct and responsible behaviour as a company from Zomato. 

GOOD ON YOU @ZomatoIN Thank you & I hope other companies and brands learn decency of public conduct & responsible behaviour as a company from you! #AndThatsHowYouDoIt https://t.co/Wx8cQWJfNe

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) July 31, 2019

Even Zomato's competitor, Uber Eats, tweeted in its support.

.@ZomatoIN, we stand by you. https://t.co/vzjF8RhYzi

— Uber Eats India (@UberEats_IND) July 31, 2019

Hey @ZomatoIN I am sorry for this hate that you're getting because of some people who have themselves become who they hate.

We Love You and We Stand By You. Ignore #boycottzomato. Haters trending this are a tiny fragment of huge lovers of zomato universe. #iStandWithZomato

— Deepika Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) July 31, 2019

I'm first time install @ZomatoIN App #Istandwithzomato pic.twitter.com/ewIEoeSAWd

— Furkan Sahil (@FurkanQ18686800) July 31, 2019

Installed @ZomatoIN app. Am ordering my next meal to thank @deepigoyal for standing up to bigots. #IStandWithZomato What about you? pic.twitter.com/x9FeX1YHoU

— Rifat Jawaid (@RifatJawaid) July 31, 2019
)

Shameful act by Amit. I'm a Hindu and I eat non veg during shravanam. Even I worked as a delivery boy in zomato and delivered many orders to Hindus, Muslims whomever it is.#IStandWithZomato #Zomato pic.twitter.com/XZgnun5nX7

— Thiru (@thiru2310) July 31, 2019

Here's another gem..#IStandWithZomato pic.twitter.com/ldCl9ZXJIp

— Roman D'souza (@romandsouza) July 31, 2019

 
However, not everyone was onboard with how Zomato handled the incident. Netizens stood divided on social media. Further, while many slammed Amit Shukla, the customer who refused to accept food from the hands of a Muslim delivery boy, others sided with him.

#Zomato is right to deny a customer's request for a delivery person of a diffrt religion. But wrong (& hypocritical) to claim it dsn't mix religion with food. It fusses over religious clients' halal/Jain food. Curious if it does for all, eg a religious Sikh wanting non halal meat

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) August 1, 2019

zomato ka double standard#boycottzomato pic.twitter.com/ZfDWPNNf3I

— Neutral team (@neutralteam1) August 1, 2019

Just now uninstalled ZOMATO #boycottzomato pic.twitter.com/moqUGqDglj

— Krishna Reddy (@kkr_katkuri) August 1, 2019

I am waiting for more brands to show their true colours like Amazon and recently Uber eats & #Zomato shows!!

They all are targeting us bcos we are too busy in becoming secular!

-If this is done by "Peaceful religion" then its fine & there is no discrimination!#BoycottUberEats pic.twitter.com/bb1uSkYFJx

— Mukul Sharma (@mukulsharma1419) August 1, 2019

#boycottzomato deleted zomato forever. pic.twitter.com/3XCzoLfZt1

— Parasarvijay (@parasarvijay) August 1, 2019

Dear Zomato, I just removed you from my phone. Dear Uber Eats, I haven't used your service yet but I swear not to use it hereafter....#boycottzomato #BoycottUberEats #Hypocrisy #IStandWithAmit pic.twitter.com/DSMQ7KwBf8

— Vinita Rajpoot (@Being_Vinita) August 1, 2019

#boycottzomato Asking for Halal Meat is Fundamental Right but Asking for a Hindu Rider is Bigotry.

Hail the Secular Logic.

Am going to uninstall @ZomatoIN

For it's double standard #IStandWithAmit#IStandWithAmit#boycottzomato pic.twitter.com/95kZUhfmq7

— Sunny Saini (@sunny2388400) August 1, 2019

Demanding for Halal Meat is the right but asking for a Hindu rider for delivery during the holy month of "श्रावण" is bigotry. Salute to this Secular Logic. #boycottzomato #IStandWithAmit pic.twitter.com/MaNMlAvukq

— sakshay kandhway (@sakshay_kumar) August 1, 2019

Let's rate them as 1 on Play Store and App Store.

The easiest way to respond their so called secularism for just one community.#boycottzomato #BoycottUberEats #IStandWithAmit pic.twitter.com/2FfKqN9ERn

— Dr David


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