A restaurant in the Delhi-NCR recently came under fire after it reportedly refused entry to a woman with physical disability. The woman, named Shrishti Pandey, claimed that the restaurant denied her entry as it would "disturb other customers". She took to Twitter to describe the incident. According to her Twitter thread, she visited the popular restaurant Raasta, located in Gurugram's DLF Cyberhub, with her friend and family on Friday. There she was stopped at the entry and a staff at the front desk said, "Wheelchair andar nahi jaygi (the wheelchair will not go inside)".
Further describing the incident, she said, "We thought it was an accessibility issue, but it wasn't". In fact, the staff denied them entry and pointed towards her, saying, "andar customers disturb hojaynge" (The customers will get disturbed)" Then after a lot of arguement, they were allegedly made to sit outside, which was "unsafe" for Ms. Pandey as she can't sit out in cold for long "because my body gets spastic."
"I am heartbroken. Awfully sad. And I feel disgusted," she added.
Read the detailed incident here:
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I went to my @raastagurgaon with my best friend and her fam last night. This was one of my first outings in so long and I wanted to have fun. Bhaiya (my friend's elder brother) asked for a table for four. The staff at the desk ignored him twice. 1/n— Srishti (she/her????????) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
The third time he asked, the staff replied with "wheelchair andar nahi jaygi" (The wheelchair can't go inside).
We thought it was an accessibility issue, but it wasn't. We told him that we'd manage, just book us a table. What he said next left all of shocked for a while. 2/n— Srishti (she/her????????) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
He told us pointing towards me that "andar customers disturb hojaynge" (The customers will get disturbed) and denied us entry, with so much of ease. This came from the staff of a freaking fancy place. 3/n— Srishti (she/her????????) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
After a lot of arguing, he told us to get a table outside.
Now:
1) The outside seating was ridiculous. It was getting cold. And I can't sit out in cold for long because my body gets spastic. It's literally unsafe for me? 4/n— Srishti (she/her????????) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
2) Why should I be made to sit outside anyway? segregated from everyone else? If we wanted an outside seating we would have asked for it?
Eventually we were asked to leave. Obviously. 5/n— Srishti (she/her????????) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
But is me just existing that much of a disturbance for you? Why do I always have to fight for the smallest of things? Why was I DENIED entry in a public place? Who are they to deny my entry just like that? 6/n— Srishti (she/her????????) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
Should I stop going out at all only then? Because apparently I don't belong with others. Because I'm a "disturbance" for others. Because their moods apparently get "ruined" after looking at me.
I am heartbroken. Awfully sad. And I feel disgusted. 7/n— Srishti (she/her????????) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
She also shared a video of the incident, where we could see an argument between the restaurant staff and a guest who accompanied Ms. Pandey.
pic.twitter.com/jp7zIuXgEd— Srishti (she/her????????) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022
The tweet went viral in no time with hundreds and thousands of people retweeting and condemning the incident.
The Gurugram Police responded to her tweet seeking her contact details for further action. Filmmaker and actor Pooja Bhatt too commented on the tweet saying that she was "terribly saddened" by the incident.
However, the restaurant management at Raasta was also prompt enough to respond to the incident. They apologized for the incident and said that they are taking necessary steps internally to heighten sensitivity and empathy for their staff.
"As a part of our efforts we have already reached out to the aggrieved patron to personally apologise to them," Goumtesh Singh, Founder Partner at Raasta, said in a post.
Read the complete post here:
@Srishhhh_teapic.twitter.com/eQZxqigPNF— goumtesh Singh (@goumtesh) February 13, 2022
About Somdatta SahaExplorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.