A Zomato delivery agent in Indore was forced to remove his Santa Claus costume by members of a local Hindu group while delivering orders on Christmas. The incident, captured in a video that has since gone viral, shows the delivery agent being confronted by Sumit Hardia, the district convenor of the Hindu Jagran Manch.
Confrontation Over Costume
In the video, Mr. Hardia questions the delivery agent about his attire. “Are you delivering an order by dressing up as Santa Claus?” he asks. The agent nods and confirms, explaining that the company had instructed him to wear the costume.
Mr. Hardia then retorts, “Do you ever go to people’s homes dressed as Lord Ram on Diwali?” The delivery agent responds with a simple “No,” reiterating that he was following company instructions.
The exchange culminates with the delivery agent being compelled to remove the Santa Claus costume.
Whats wrong in this??
Why can’t a delivery boy wear Santa’s dress on 25th december?
Out of insecurity, hindu extremists made @zomato delivery boy remove his Santa attire in MP’s Indore🙄
— Avishek Goyal (@AG_knocks) December 25, 2024
Zomato Delivery Man Dressed Up as Santa Claus
Mr. Hardia further admonished the delivery agent, saying, “We are Hindus. What message are we giving to children? Is it necessary to convey a message only by dressing up as Santa Claus? If you really want to send a message, dress up as Bhagat Singh or Chandrashekhar Azad.”
He also raised concerns about the cultural implications of such practices. “The majority of food is delivered to Hindus, and India is a Hindu rashtra (country),” he declared in the video.
Zomato Delivery Man in Santa Costume: Accusations of Religious Conversion Attempts
In his statements, Mr. Hardia suggested that dressing delivery agents as Santa Claus could be part of a broader attempt at religious conversion. “Such temptations are often used for religious conversion,” he alleged. He also criticized the intentions of food delivery companies, questioning, “What is the mindset of the owners? What is their intention behind making agents wear such costumes?”
The incident has sparked significant discussion on social media, with users debating cultural identity, religious expression, and corporate practices.
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