Row over Indian turning down taxi ride as ‘driver was Muslim’

An Indian man, associated with a Hindu right-wing organization, has stirred a row after he turned down a taxi which was being driven by a Muslim.

According to a Times of India report, Abhishek Mishra, who is a social media adviser of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Organization) wrote on his Twitter that he would not travel with a Muslim driver of location-based taxi app Ola.

“Cancelled @Olacabs Booking because Driver was Muslim. I don’t want to give my money to Jihadi People,” he wrote.

Following massive outrage on the social media and demands to suspend his account with both Twitter and Ola, the cab service hit back saying their service was strictly a secular platform and the company would not support any views aiding disharmony.

“Ola, like our country, is a secular platform, and we don't discriminate our driver partners or customers basis their caste, religion, gender or creed. We urge all our customers and driver partners to treat each other with respect at all times.”

Mishra’s 14,000-plus followers on social media include union ministers and members of Parliament belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, the BJP.