The Delhi government on Sunday ordered an investigation into reports that a restaurant in Delhi’s Connaught Place locality had allegedly refused to serve street children. “This is typical colonial mindset. It can’t be tolerated,” Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia said on Twitter.
The Aam Aadmi Party leader further said the restaurant’s licence will be cancelled if the allegations are found true, and action will be taken against it. The district magistrate of New Delhi has been asked to look into the case and submit a report within 24 hours, he added.
A woman, Sonali Shetty (pictured above), had protested outside Shiv Sagar in Connaught Place on Saturday, after the restaurant allegedly asked her to leave the premises along with the children, saying it was their right to decline service to whomever they pleased. She claimed that the owner said the children looked dirty and were not dressed well. “What happened yesterday is unfortunate. It is not just my defeat, but the nation’s defeat,” she told ANI on Sunday. Shetty, who has lodged a complaint against the restaurant, said she plans to continue her protest outside the restaurant with more street children on Sunday evening.
Shiv Sagar, however, has denied the allegations, saying they had allowed the children to enter but asked them to leave as they were disturbing other patrons in the restaurant by creating a ruckus, The Times of India reported. “It is completely untrue that we denied entry to the children, as we have it on record that we allowed them to sit inside…As a restaurateur, I have the right to deny service to someone who disturbs other customers,” Roma Malhotra, an employee of the restaurant, said.
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