Twitter was set aflutter on Tuesday after a Hyderabad-based physician asked Ola Cabs to let him choose a Hindu driver, drawing a strong response from the taxi aggregator and wide condemnation from people on the micro-blogging website.
“Being a Hindu I usually prefer Driver of Hindu Faith Only, Particularly in Hyderabad.. pls Give us a chance to Choose a Driver,” Seelam Veerapa Naidu tweeted to the Ola twitter handle.
Within minutes, his timeline was flooded with irate response from twitterati who condemned his allegedly communal remark, with Ola issuing a stern statement. "Sorry, we do not discriminate against our drivers on the basis of their religion," the app-based cab company tweeted.
Their stance was appreciated even by other cab companies, with rival Uber backing Ola on their statement.
“Well said, guys. #respect,” @Uber_Delhi tweeted.
{{/usCountry}}“Well said, guys. #respect,” @Uber_Delhi tweeted.
{{/usCountry}}Naidu tried defending his stance, saying his demand was not discriminatory and should be seen as customer preference. “My intention is not to hurt any one,” he tweeted later.
Ironically, Naidu’s timeline revealed he strongly supported a proposed government move to ban Uber, Ola and other app-based services, saying it was long overdue and “East India Company like situations should be nipped in Bud”.